Just a Knife and a Moment

Prologue: The House in Spain

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July 30, 2010

She sat, poised to pounce, on the windowsill. Thin, silky curtains separated her from the room that lay in the quiet beyond. The only light in the dark abyss was that of the moon, reflecting off the looking glass in the corner. Across the room stood the only other piece of noteworthy furniture, the bed. Its canopy seemed to tower above its sole occupant. A slight breeze parted the transparent fabric. With cat-like grace she dropped to the floor and crept toward the expansive bed.

"I know what you've come for, Ginny."

The woman called Ginny stopped cold in her tracks. She watched, eyes widened in horrific understanding, as the woman in the bed sat up. Her long, chocolate brown hair fell around her shoulders, framing her face in soft curls.

"Hermione." Ginny inched closer as she locked eyes with the woman in the bed.

"Don't move."

Ginny froze. She was fully aware of Hermione's capabilities. The Ministry had been keeping tabs on her since that incident in Bangladesh seven years ago. It had been quite a disturbing experience, even for a public that had seen nearly everything during Voldemort's reign of terror.

"All I want to do is talk, Hermione."

"Goddess, Ginny, don't lie to me. I wasn't born yesterday."

Ginny smiled. At least Hermione was still showing signs of sanity. But that didn't alter her course any. She knew what her ultimate mission was. Getting it to happen was going to be the difficult part.

"I know, Hermione." Ginny paused, plotting her next move. "So, how's life?"

Hermione was obviously caught off guard. "What?"

"I said," Ginny relaxed a bit and took a more comfortable stance. "How's life?"

"Just fine. And yours?" Hermione was puzzled. Why would the Ministry send its most successful Hit Wizard across the space-time continuum just to chat?

"Not so good." Ginny made a silent prayer to the Goddess that Hermione wouldn't catch her little fib. "You see, I have a problem. Ron moved in with Paravati and Mum is a bit ticked. She's from the old school that doesn't believe in two people living together unless they are married. So, being the only one left living at home I was deemed the middleman. It's driving me insane!"

"Why don't you stay here a while? You obviously need a vacation from the Weasley Family Politics. I know I did..." Hermione's voice trailed off into the darkness. The silence stretched on, attempting to convey her feelings over the past ten years. She remembered every detail of the Burrow. In all these years it was the only thing that remained crisp in her mind. As if it was determined to haunt her every waking moment. She sighed, returning to the present.

"Oh, I couldn't intrude..."

"Nonsense! You're family, Ginny!" She waved her arm and a bed identical to her own appeared next to the window through which Ginny had entered. "I'll have Carlota prepare a room for you in the morning, but until then I hope that will do."

"Thanks, Herm. You're the greatest." Ginny could feel Hermione's eyes on her back as she turned and headed toward the bed. She dared not change into the nightgown lying on the coverlet, incase her armed-and-dangerous uniform of sorts went mysteriously missing in the night. So, without acknowledging the presence of the gown, she pulled back the covers and climbed in.

Hermione smiled to herself. Ginny didn't suspect anything. She slid back beneath her own covers and drifted calmly onto the mystical shores of the Dream Island. A place she hadn't visited in years.

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