Any Random Tuesday

Chapter Seven

Ginny sat at the kitchen table fuming. The latest copy of the daily prophet in front of her. A picture of her friend, Hermione Granger smiled up at her. Ginny recognized the picture it had been taken when the Golden Trio had graduated from Hogwarts. Right after the photographer had snapped that picture Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Neville, and Luna had taken off to go Pub crawling in muggle London.

“To freedom!” Ron yelled raising his Tequila shot in the air.
“To freedom,” the group chimed before downing the foreign liquid.
“Ugh,” Hermione grimaced as the alcohol burned its way down.
“Another!” Ron shouted picking up another shot glass.
“To a bright and glorious future,” Harry offered as his eyes met Ginny’s across the crowded table.
“Here, here, “Ron agreed glancing at Hermione. Hermione avoided his gaze as she dropped her lime to pick up a shot glass. They all threw back the shots.
“Let’s play a game, “Luna suggested.
“Yes, let’s!” Neville agreed.
“What game should we play?” Ron asked.
“Never have I ever,” Harry suggested.
“You know that game?” Hermione asked her surprise evident upon her face.
“Yes, I did grow up in a muggle household too,” Harry replied.
“I’ve never heard of this game,” Ginny began, “How do you play?”
“It’s simple,” Harry started,” You say never have I ever and then something you have never done and anyone who has done that, has to take a drink.”
“Sounds good,” Ginny stated.
“I”ll start,” Ron volunteered, “Never have I ever made a study schedule.” Everyone laughed as Hermione threw back a shot.
Hermione glared at Ron, “Never have I ever played quidditch.” Ron, Ginny, and Harry threw back shots.
“Never have I ever been a Gryffindor,” Luna giggled as everyone else threw back a shot.
“Never have I ever flown in a car,” Neville offered. As the game continued the group grew rowdier and rowdier and Ron became more competitive. He seemed to want to make Hermione drink.
“Never have I ever used a time turner,” Ron said grinning from ear to ear.
“No,” Hermione protested, “I am not drinking anymore. I’m out.”
“Come on,” Ron whined, “You are ruining the fun.”
“I think I’m done too,” Harry added.
“You’re just saying that because of Hermione.
“No, Ron we’re done,” Harry stated firmly.
“Yeah, Luna and I should get going,” Neville stated.
‘Wait!” Ron shouted, “Just let me do one more.”
“No, Ron…..”
“Fine one more, “Hermione grumbled interrupting Harry.
“Never have I ever hated Snape,” Ron said with a straight face.
“You liar!” Harry shouted.
“That’s right. Everyone drinks!” Ron laughed. Hermione rolled her eyes at him but picked up her shot glass.
“To unity,” Luna cheered as she clinked her glass with Ginny’s.

Ginny sighed as she continued to stare at the happy girl in the picture. Her best friend was missing and her husband was working the case. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me about this last night!” Ginny fumed, “I shouldn’t have had to find out from the Daily Prophet.”
“Ginny,” She heard a voice calling from the living room. “Harry,” it tried. Ginny got up and walked into the living room where she saw her mother’s head glowing green in the fireplace.
“Did you know about this?” Molly asked with a frown.
“You mean about Hermione?” Molly nodded. “No, I found out from the prophet.”
“I cannot believe that Harry would be so inconsiderate. We should have been the first to know. I consider Hermione to be a daughter and Harry knows that.”
“Yes Mum.”
“I am going to have to get the whole family together right away. You can come for lunch can’t you?” Molly ranted.
“Sure…”
“Good,” Molly interrupted, “I have a lot of work to do and a howler to send. I’ll see you at noon dear.” With a small poof Molly’s head disappeared from the fire. Ginny pulled herself up and headed to the desk to write Harry a howler of her own.

“No, Hermione would not run away.”
“Harry there is no evidence that she was abducted or murdered. We found nothing at her apartment, everyone we have talked to says she doesn’t have an enemy in the world,” Gwen argued.
“But she does. The deatheaters that are still out there could have easily gone after her.”
“We cannot base an investigation on maybes. This is nothing but a missing person’s case as far as the LPD is concerned.”
“I don’t really care what the LPD thinks….” Harry began before he noticed an owl hovering outside the window. “Does that open?” Harry asked pointing to the window.
Gwen stared at him perplexed by the question. “Yes,” she answered with hesitation unsure of his motives.
Harry got and walked to the window opening it so that the owl could fly inside. Gwen shrieked as the tawny brown owl landed on her desk. “What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s just an owl,” Harry retorted as a gray owl flew in the open window and landed next to the tawny brown. “It’s just two owls,” he corrected.
“Let me rephrase that. Why are letting owls into my office?”
“It’s the postal system,” Harry responded as he pulled a red envelope from each owl. “Howlers,” he muttered to himself.
“Of course, I should have known that wizards wouldn’t deal with the mail themselves,” Gwen answered her voice slick with sarcasm.
“Cover your ears.”
“What? No.”
“Fine suit yourself,” Harry responded before opening the first howler.
“HARRY JAMES POTTER,” Molly’s voice shrieked, “HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL ME ABOUT HERMIONE1 SHE IS A DAUGHTER TO ME AND YOU LET ME FIND OUT FROM THE NEWSPAPER! THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE HARRY, UNACCEPTABLE! I have arranged a lunch today at noon, so you can explain to the family what is going on and what needs to be done to bring Hermione home.”
“I never should have agreed to this assignment.”
“Are you going to cover you ears for this one?”
“No.”
“What is wrong with you?”
“It might be important to the investigation.”
“Everything’s about work with you, isn’t it?” Harry asked.
“I just want to help people.”
“I don’t think that’s it. I think you’re hiding something.”
“Just open your howler, Potter,” Gwen responded in defense feeling that his last remark was too close to the truth for her liking.
Harry sensed that he had made Gwen uncomfortable. He turned his attention the second red envelope.
“HARRY, I AM DISAPPOINTED IN YOU! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME ABOUT HERMIONE?” Ginny’s voice screamed, “I WILL SEE YOU AT LUNCH AND WE WILL TALK THEN!”
“Who are these people?” Gwen asked.
“That was my wife, Ginny. And the other was her mother, Molly.” Harry explained.
“So, when is the one from your mother coming?” Gwen joked.
“Never,” Harry responded, “She was murdered when I was a baby.”
“Sorry,” Gwen answered.
“It’s almost eleven thirty. I should be going.” Harry said as he looked at his watch.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“I’m coming with you,” Gwen responded pulling a jacket from the back of her chair.
“Let me guess. It might be important to the investigation.”
“Yes, think of all those potential suspects.”

Wood crashed against wood high in the air, as two chairs battled at the will of their masters down below. Suddenly, a table appeared alongside the chairs as they crashed together. “Would you two cut it out,” Bill shouted to Charlie and George as he walked past, “You’re just as bad as my two year old,” he added under his breath.
“And your just as crank as my mother,” George shot back with a defiant grin as Charlie took the opportunity to crash his chair into George’s.
“What did you just say about me?” Molly demanded as she emerged from the burrow with a plate of food.
“Just how wonderful you are!” George replied with a grin.
“Right,” Molly began, “You three stop fooling about and get that furniture to the garden. I have a feast to lay out.”
“Yes, mum,” George, Charlie and Bill replied.
“I have so much to do. You would think that my grown sons would be more cooperative,” Molly muttered under her breath.
“Ron!” George shouted. Everyone turned to see the tall lanky red head stumbling and swaying his way down the dirt road. The table and chairs smashed to the ground, as the boys ran off to help their brothers.
Molly muttered a quick reparo and levitated the table and chairs into the garden herself. She was just placing her tray of food down, when George and Bill plunked Ron down in the chair.
“He’s drunk.”
“I think that’s obvious,” Molly replied.
“Hermione,” Ron muttered.
“Get him some coffee,” Molly ordered.
“I’m not sure that’s going to help,” Bill replied.
“I said, GET HIM COFFEE!” Bill and George took off at a run.
Molly sighed as she sat down next to her son, “Ron, I know you are upset about Hermione, but drinking is not going to help you.”
“Who would do this?”
“I don’t know baby,” Molly soothed pulling Ron to her, “but we are going to find out what happened to her, and where she is, and bring her back.”
“She didn’t want me.”
“She was confused.”
“I could have protected her. I would have kept her safe.”
“I know Ron. You would and will be a wonderful husband to her. You’ll see Ron everything’s going to be okay.”
“Hello, Mrs. Weasley.” Molly turned.
“Harry!” She exclaimed seeing the man standing next to her. “Who is this?” She asked gesturing to Gwen who stood beside him.
“Detective Gwen Cooper London PD,” Gwen answered.
“Gwen is working with me on the case.”
“That’s nice. The LPD, that’s muggle law enforcement, right?” Molly questioned.
“That’s correct,” Gwen answered a hint of unease sneaking through her placid demeanor.
“Harry, Ginny is in the kitchen. I think she wanted to speak with you.”
“Right, thank you.” Harry responded turning towards the Burrow.
“Why don’t you stay here with us?” Molly purred to Gwen as she made to follow Harry. “I think Harry could use some time alone with his wife and I would love to hear what you think happened to our Hermione.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about the case with anyone who is not an immediate family member Mrs.…….”
“You can call me Molly, dear. And I am family. Hermione is a daughter to me and she’s going to marry my Ron just as soon as we get her back.”
“Oh,” Gwen responded with a look of surprise, “I wasn’t aware of any romantic connection with a Ron.”
“Oh yes. They have been sweethearts since they first attended Hogwarts together. We have all known that their marriage is inevitable.”
“Mum, stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Ron slurred as his head slumped to the table.
“Sorry dear,” Molly paused to pat him, “Gwen this is my son Ron. He doesn’t always get drunk before noon. He’s just a bit upset about his dear Hermione.”
“I’m sure,” Gwen agreed, “Where’s your bathroom?”
“Inside. Just head into the kitchen and someone will show you where it is.”
“Thanks,” Gwen responded with a fake smile before turning to walk away.
“These people are insane,” she thought to herself, “I don’t blame that poor girl for running away.” These people were obviously smothering her with their unrealistic expectations. Her thoughts turned to the purple leather bound diary that she carried in her satchel. She had yet to read more than two entries, She wanted to. She knew that reading the diary would give her the insights she needed to solve the case, but it felt wrong. There was something about working with a person who personally knew the victim that made it harder for her to stay detached.

“How was I suppose to tell you your friend was missing after finding out we are going to have a baby?”
“I found out from the paper Harry! How do you think that made me feel?”
“Ginny,” Harry interrupted with a sigh.
“And my mother. I couldn’t even explain to my mother why her favorite son in law didn’t tell her that Hermione was missing.”
“Ginny, if I had known it was going to be leaked to the press I would have told you sooner.”
“You should have told my anways!”
“It is not that simple. I can’t give myself special privileges because I am Harry Potter. I would have placed any member of my staff on suspension for telling their families.”
“They are not her family!”
“Technically neither are you.”
“HARRY JAME POTTER! How dare you! I would think you of all people would understand that family is about more than blood!”
“This is about laws and regulations, not what I personally think. Some things are not up to me Ginny.”
“Everyone knows that Hermione is going to marry Ron and that makes us family.” Ginny harrumphed.
Harry sighed with frustration and ran his hands through his hair, “Why does everyone think that?”
“What does that mean?” Ginny questioned her eyes widening as she caught a glimpse of a figure outside the door. She pushed past Harry and threw open the door. A shocked Gwen stared back at her.
“Sorry I was just looking for the loo.”
“Who are you?” Ginny questioned crossing her arms in and intimidating stance.
“Ginny, this is Detective Gwen Cooper from the London Police Department. Gwen this is my wife Ginny.”
“A muggle?” Gwen twitched at Ginny’s words, “What is she doing here?”
“Gwen is working with me on the case.”
“But Hermione’s a witch….”
“Who interacted in the muggle world,” Gwen spat interrupting Ginny, “I’m just going to find the loo.”
“Next door on your right,” Harry directed.
“Thank you,” Gwen answered walking away.
‘What the hell was that about?” Harry began, “Since when have you hated muggles?”
“Sorry, hormones got the best of me,” Ginny responded her voice oily with sarcasm.
“This isn’t you,” Harry stated before slipping past a stunned Ginny.

Harry had spent a lot of time considering who to sit Gwen by at lunch. He didn’t know why he felt so protective of her. She seemed strong and able to take care of herself, but at the same time it felt like her hard exterior was hiding something. Whatever, it was Harry felt it necessary to sit Gwen with people who would not act like Ginny had.
“Gwen, this is Ted and Andromeda Tonks and their grandson Teddy.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Andromeda responded beaming up at Gwen.
“Same here,” Ted added extending the hand that wasn’t wrapped around the sleeping Teddy, who occupied his lap.
“Nice to meet both of you,” Gwen answered shaking Ted’s hand. Harry pulled out a chair and she sat down. “I once knew someone named Tonk. At least that’s what she went by. I think her first name was actually Nymphadora.”
“I bet she didn’t have pink hair,” George joked from across the table.
“Actually, she did one time. And another time it was green. I was always amazed at how she could get such vibrant colors.” Everyone stared at Gwen, shock evident on their faces. ‘What did I say?” Gwen whispered to Harry.
“Nothing. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence,” he whispered back.
“Harry tell us about the investigation,” Molly asked with a fake smile as she passed a dish of potatoes to Arthur.
“Well, Gwen and I haven’t been working on this case for very long……”
“Who took Hermione?” Ron interrupted appearing less inebriated then when he had first arrived.
Gwen and Harry exchanged looks. “We have been unable to establish foul play,” Harry stated.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Ron retorted growing red in the face.
“Ronald Weasley! There are children present,” Molly scolded indicating the sleeping Teddy and little Victoire who was being fed potatoes by Fleur. “Harry dear, what do you mean unable to establish foul play?”
“It means that Hermione appears to be missing at her own will>” Gwen answered holding her head high.
“What!” Ron began, ‘Hermione wouldn’t run away. Harry you can’t agree with her!”
“I’m sorry. I know this is hard for all of you, but Gwen and I agree that Hermione is missing of her own accord.”
“No you are wrong. Hermione would not run away!” Ron yelled.
“For once I agree with the Weasel,” Draco purred behind Harry causing the entire party to jump in surprise. They had all been so preoccupied with the plight of Hermione that no one had noticed Draco’s entrance.
“Malfoy! What are you doing here?” George exclaimed.
“What would you know about Hermione?” Ron added.
“You didn’t know he’s her….. ow!” Gwen exclaimed as Harry kicked her under the table.
“He’s my secretary,” Harry jumped in.
“No, I am his personal assistant and I have been working on this case,” Draco glared.
“What is wrong with you Harry? What ever possessed you to hire this slime?” Ron questioned.
“I am not at liberty to discuss the terms of our agreement,” Harry said attempting to pacify Ron, but he lurched from his chair.
“I am going to kick you ass Malfoy.”
“Well then let me give you a good reason to,” Draco grinned.
“Ronald Weasley!” Molly yelled only to be ignored.
“What other reason do I need besides you being a slimy greasy git,” Ron replied getting right into Draco’s face. Harry jumped up from his seat.
“Draco do not say what I think you are going to say,” Harry interjected.
“I am going to turn you into a ferret, ferret,” Ron threatened pulling his wand from his pocket.
“I guess some people can never let go of the past, huh weasel?” Draco teased pulling his own wand and aiming it at Ron. Ron raised his wand and opened his mouth to speak a horrific shriek filled the air.
“No please stop” Gwen cried. Ron turned to see her large grey eyes filled with fear her skin her pale skin as white as snow, and she was shaking uncontrollably. Ron could see that her eyes were unfocused as if she were somewhere else.
Ron bent down beside her and grabbed her hand, “Gwen, I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to scare you.” Harry was surprised not just by Gwen’s reaction, but by Ron’s reaction to Gwen. He puzzled over them for a moment before realizing that he needed to get her out of there.
“Thank you very much for lunch, Mrs. Weasley, but I am afraid Gwen, Draco and I must get back to work,” with those final words he grabbed a hold of Gwen and apparated away.
“Yes, thank you all,” Draco said with a sneer and apparated away leaving a stunned gathering behind.