Just a Knife and a Moment

Chapter One: The Debut

***

July 31, 2005

"And in other news today, Mr. Harry Potter's endorsement of a 250 billion Galleon fund for the advanced education of orphaned Witches and Wizards across the world caused the almost bankrupt, but still popular Weasley's Wizard Wheezes to soar at the International Magic Trade, which closed this afternoon after several record breaking figures were announced. Co-founders Fred and George Weasley were spotted several times today performing life-endangering tumbling tricks at the Trade Center floor. When asked why they insisted on such antics, Fred was reported as saying 'Join us!' His twin brother followed with a jaunty smile and 'When in Rome, do like the Romans!'

"Mr. Potter, head of 3W's Board of Trustees and Principal Owner, said simply that '3W's success began at Hogwarts, so it seemed fitting that we return some of the kindness and inspiration that was shown us in our seven years there.' When asked if Mr. Potter believed his being The Boy Who Lived had any influence on the 3W stock numbers, he had no comment. Ronald Weasley, Chief Accountant at 3W, did tell us that Mr. Potter would never answer any questions regarding the influence of his fame on the decisions of the Wizarding Community while he breathes of his own free will.

"Now over to Bob Slovak for the latest Quidditch news... Bob--"

Gloria looked up from her Quick Quotes Quill when her office plunged into silence. "Harry! Why'd you turn it off? It was just getting to the good part!"

Harry just stared blankly out the window. Gloria knew right away what was happening. She shifted a few parchment rolls on her desk until she found the one marked Calendar. Tearing it open and glancing over the days circled in red effaced her doubts. Today was not a good day.

"It's been five years, Gloria... five long years..." Harry had just barely whispered, but Gloria caught every word. She'd been Harry's secretary long enough to know that the most important things Harry ever said were spoken in shadows of whispers. She leaned forward, her Quick Quotes Quill at the ready with a fresh parchment roll. "Ron's mum was throwing a birthday party for me, like she did every year. All the Weasley's were there. We were regaled with horrific tales from Ron's childhood, tense stories of the worries we'd caused through our years at Hogwarts, and tear-drenched accounts of unconditional love. The party lasted long into the morning. Hermione slept in Ginny's room on a make-shift bed Bill had magicked in there. Ron and I camped out on the living room floor while Bill and Charlie commandeered Ron's room. He was rather peeved at that, but was too content to complain much about it.

"I couldn't sleep. I don't really remember why. It wasn't the food. It was never the food. But something kept me alive and kicking all morning. Finally, I couldn't stand it. I crept out the back door and began strolling through the gardens. Apparently the Weasley Gardens are much like the Hogwarts' staircases; they like to change. I happened upon a section of the garden I had never seen before. At the time I thought it was rather impossible because I had lived in that house, I mean truly lived, for the happiest seven years of my life. How could I have missed something? But, it was there. A small lake, partly surrounded by a towering, brick wall that was covered in purple wisteria blossoms. Across from the wall of wisteria stood a Weeping Willow. The entire scene had a surreal glow to it, like I was dreaming or something. I was drawn to the tree. I had lost all control over my body. I just went to the tree and before I knew it, I was asleep beneath that tree.

"A few hours later, a glimmer of fiery red penetrated my eyelids. I opened them to find the sun just rising over the horizon. Something silky smooth and the color of strawberry wine was resting on my shoulder. Not wanting to disturb the resident of my shoulder, but wanting desperately to know what it was, I looked about me for a reflection. In the blue-green waters of the lake, I saw the most beautiful woman I would ever lay eyes upon. Her long, blazing locks framed her face in caressing curls. Her button nose was sprinkled with freckles that appeared golden in the morning sunlight. She seemed to glow peacefully on my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Of course, there was only one woman who could possibly look so heavenly and be so near... Ginny Weasley..." Harry let her name ring out through the office, as if urging it to take the shape of that woman by the tree.

Gloria was no stranger to this legend of Ginny Weasley. She'd been subject to strange owls, weird whisperings, and all sorts of oddments that seemed to all have one thing in common. Her name. Every year, the tale of Ginny Weasley was retold in the same fashion. Harry would stand by the window and whisper to himself about the last day he saw her radiant face, sprinkled with flakes of gold. Each year, the tale was a bit different, a bit lengthier, a bit more detailed. And each year, Gloria would take the tiny threads of a torn legend and attempt to weave them back together. The tapestry was far from finished, but Gloria was hoping that this year, this fifth year, would hold something special for Harry. She inched closer to the edge of her chair, on the brink of insanity with the silence that pervaded the room.

Harry sighed. He wanted to go on. He wanted to tell someone... anyone... the entire story. How he met Ginny... how he loved Ginny... how he hated Ginny... how he departed Ginny... The intricate details of their would-be relationship, however, were fated to remain with Harry... always.

"SCREEECH!!!"

Gloria jumped, her wand eager to curse the interrupter into oblivion. Harry, hands shaking from the shock, unlatched the window. A beautiful snowy owl soared into the office. She landed gracefully on the perch near Gloria's desk. Gloria, more than a little irritated, stomped over to the perch.

"I don't see what was so damn important, Hedwig, that it couldn't have waited ten minutes." Gloria muttered. Hedwig held out her claw. Tied to it was a small, crimson tube. Harry Potter was scrawled across the length of the tube in neat, green script. Before Gloria even had the chance to think about opening the tube, it flew from her hands and landed neatly on the windowsill in front of Harry.

"Oh, I get it, Harry. It's one of those letters. Alright, then... I'll leave. Owl me if you need any--" Harry held up his hand to cut her off. She took that as her cue to leave. "Goddess, please let this be the last year." Gloria whispered as she shut the heavy office door behind her.

Harry looked down at the tiny scroll sitting patiently on his open palm. He sighed heavily and slipped the scroll into an inside pocket of his business robes. "You'll have to wait, today..."

***

"Jaki! You sure you know where you're going?" Ginny hollered above the roaring wind that whipped past her face. It seemed as though they were fated never to find Jaki's homeland. She urged her broom to go faster, almost losing hope of ever catching up to her winged friend. Jaki slowed.

"You say something?" Jaki said. Ginny came to a screeching halt in front of her friend.

"Yeah," Ginny smiled "Why can't I have wings?"

"Because you were in that unfortunate batch of spirits that didn't pick up your bag of common sense before you came to earth." Jaki winked. Ginny crossed her arms over her chest, in mock protestation. Jaki became serious again and peered into the mist. A thick, gray wall encompassed the two traveling companions. Neither had seen any sign of life beyond the mist for three hours now. If it weren't for that irrational desire to go North, Jaki would have agreed to turn back ages ago. But something in her heart, in her very blood, drove her forward. "We aren't far off now, Ginny."

Ginny was skeptical, but kept her fears to herself. She knew this was a monumental event in Jaki's life. Without the Ritual Jaki would never be allowed to live among Humans. The part of her that was represented by enormous wings and a fiery tongue wouldn't allow her to safely mingle with what could be considered a healthy meal. Ginny's eyes fixed on her friend's wings as they receded into the mist. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Jaki. Partaking in the Ritual would allow her safe contact with Humans, yes, but it meant forsaking her rights to the Homeland. Once she and Ginny returned to London, Jaki would never lay eyes on her family again.

***

The noon sun beat down on Hermione's skin, threatening to burn her to a crisp. She snapped her fingers and a waiter appeared at her side.

"It's hot." She said tersely.

Without a word the uniformly clad young man conjured up an umbrella and magicked it into the center of the café table. He then performed a cooling charm around Hermione's reserved table.

Hermione smiled grimly up at the man. He bowed and disappeared. She returned her attention to her copy of The Prophet. The headlines screamed "JANUS STRIKES AGAIN!" The article following the ominous announcement told of yet another prominent witch who had been mysteriously stripped of her powers.

RAVEN NEST--Ms. Cho Chang of Chang and Hung, Attorneys at Law has fallen victim to the ruthless thief known to all as Janus. Ms. Chang frantically told reporters early this morning of a shadowy figure that had appeared to her during the night. It told her that it was here to punish her because of her misdeeds as a teenager. The figure then performed an ancient spell, which drained any and all magic from Ms. Chang's body. 'I felt limp and weak, almost too tired to carry on,' she said. Doctors have found no signs of further maltreatment to Ms. Chang. 'All that was taken was her magic. She is perfectly healthy and can function just as well as any able bodied Muggle.' Says Dr. Scarpeta of St. Mungo's.

Janus is no stranger to the wizarding world. Ever since the brutal incident in Bangladesh during the winter of 2003, the Ministry has been aware of Janus' demoniac presence. 'We've got the entire Auror division on his tail. We'll catch him, I promise,' said Minister Truffle at this morning's press conference. Truffle also unveiled the details of the investigation into Ms. Chang's case. As with each other theft performed by Janus, the only clue as to the identity of the shadowy figure was a note tacked to the front door of the victim's house. It read thus:

"I am Janus. Fear me. Obey me. Love me."

Hermione mulled the information over in her mind. She was so close to her goal, with no one near enough the truth to stop her. A sly grin spread across her red lips. Cho deserved what she got. After all those years of toying with Harry's heart, it was about time someone exacted their revenge on her.

"Hermione!"

Hermione's mind snapped back to the present. Inwardly she groaned. Outwardly she smiled and welcomed her colleague to the table. He waved over one of the waiters and ordered a drink, then seated himself comfortably across from Hermione.

"I've been looking all over for you. Katherine had the most wonderful idea and wanted to share it with you, but you were nowhere to be found. Anyway, now that I've caught you, I might as well bring you up to speed..." Hermione tuned out his chatting. Bradley would talk the ear off of a Dementor if given half the chance. Instead, she turned her thoughts toward her next victim. She was running low on enemies these days, and as a result was forced to more thoroughly comb the wizarding world for a powerful witch or wizard who she could justify in borrowing powers from.

"Anyway... as I was saying... Hermione? Hermione, are you listening to me?" Bradley cocked his head to one side and searched Hermione's facial features for some sign of recognition. There was none. "I'll leave you to it, then. Hope to catch you around the office some time." Bradley's departure went unnoticed.

***

Jaki's heart pounded. They were close. So close. Her vast wings propelled her forward at breakneck speed. She groped the space in front of her, as if attempting to tear the mists away from her eyes. Her arm was fully extended, fingers yearning to feel something tangible. Suddenly, she felt a cool, liquid like something grab hold of the tips of her fingers and envelope her in ripples. Jaki closed her eyes, praying that this was not a trap.

With out warning, the force released her. A feeling of freedom swept over her. She was floating above the most beautiful landscape she could ever dream of. Her eyes glanced over the towering volcanoes, the vast forests, and the endless network of caves and huts that sprinkled the Islands. She was home.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"

Something fiery red went whizzing past her ear. Jaki watched in amazement as her friend tumbled onto a fluffy white cloud, and remained suspended in the sky. It was then that she noticed her wings were still at her side, unmoving. She jumped up and down, testing her harebrained theory.

"JAKI????"

"Don't shout, Ginny. I'm right here." Jaki walked over to Ginny's cloud, and pulled up a soft, white puff of her own.

"Answer me one thing..." Ginny was lying on her back in the center of the cloud, with her eyes squeezed shut. "Am I dead?"

Jaki reached over and comically pinched Ginny's arm. "Nope."

Ginny slowly opened one eye. She saw the bright blue sky above her and figured she was lying on the ground. Opening both eyes and adjusting to the intense light, Ginny rolled over. Her eyes widened in horror to see that she was not on a leafy bed of terra firma. "WHAAAA--"

"Shhh!" Jaki clamped her hand over Ginny's mouth. Ginny's eyes met hers. They agreed to speak in whispers. "We're not quite in the Drakkonian dimension yet..."

"What do you mean?"

"Think of it like a snow globe. We're sitting on the glass."

"And how do we get in?"

"Eh... that's what I haven't quite got figured out yet." Jaki glanced down nervously. They would be useless to anyone, Humans or otherwise if stuck in limbo between two dimensions. Slowly, an idea began to form in her head.

Ginny watched the cogs in her friend's head slowly begin to turn in tune with her Drakkonian drums. Questions formed in Jaki's eyes.... How would a Dragon get in? Fire? Password? Invitation?

Jaki opened her mouth and summoned up the knowledge of fire breathing from the depths of her memory. She willed the glands in her mouth to secrete the chemicals necessary for combustion. A low rumble began to sound from the bottom of her soul. It quickly grew stronger and louder until the sensation was too intense for words. Just as Jaki felt she would snap in two, a bolt of white-hot flames shot forth. It bathed the serenity of baby blue sky in a hellish heat.

Ginny felt the cloud puff drop out from beneath her. She frantically fumbled about for something solid to cling to. There was nothing. Slowly, as if time had stopped completely, Ginny began to accept the fact that she was going to come crashing to the earth. She would die on impact. She sent many sincere prayers to the Goddess, in hopes that She would give her parents an understanding of the past five years... where she'd been... what she was doing... why she was dabbling in inter-dimensional travel... She closed her eyes, drawing up a picture of the Goddess welcoming her home.

The world went black, and she knew no more.

***

Bill slipped noiselessly through the back door to the Burrow. The house was silent, not even the ghoul was clunking around in the attic. Relaxing, Bill shed his stealthy demeanor and finally came to rest in his own home. He kicked off his shoes, and made his way to the kitchen. He chuckled when he spotted his aged but energetic mother sputtering at the refrigerator.

"Arthur and his damned Muggle inventions... can't he just be happy with wizarding appliances?" Molly rummaged through the crisper, wondering which little devil had turned all her prize lettuce brown. Exasperated, she slammed the door on the fridge. Bill watched bemusedly from his traditional seat at one end of the kitchen table.

"Hello, Mother."

Molly nearly jumped out of her skin. "Goddess, child, don't scare your poor old mother like that ever again!" She turned, ready to curse Fred or George or whoever had played that horrid trick on her. Spotting Bill, she curbed her tirade and embraced her son with love, kisses, and tears.

"Mom, really now. You'd think I came back from the dead." Bill chuckled. He had no idea how much truth his jest held.

"Oh, Billy... I can't stand it any more! You realize it's been five years since she graduated? No letters... no post cards... no notices from the coroner... nothing... absolutely nothing. Seeing you again... just..." Molly broke down. Bill's shirt was soaked, but he didn't mind. He become conscious of the fact that he had neglected to keep up his correspondence with his beloved mother for five years now. The day his letter got interrupted by his frantic sister would remain crystal clear in his mind, forever...

"Bill, I talked to someone at the end of year celebration. He offered me a job as an Auror. Not just any Auror though. There's a secret organization of what he called hit wizards within the Auror division. Apparently the Head of that department has been keeping track of me since Second year..."

"Ginny, you know what this entails?"

"Yes. I can't tell anybody. Not even mum and dad."

"Are you sure you want to put them through that?"

"Bill... you know I love you and the rest of the family... but I need to get away from it all. I've never led a normal life. The friend of Harry Potter. At the dance, I realized I didn't even know the names of the four girls I shared a dorm with. Protecting Harry swallowed my social life. I need this. I need freedom."

"And you think this is the best way to go about it?"

"I don't know...I was hoping you would tell me I was crazy... but ..." Tears welled up in my sister's eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen her cry since her Second year at Hogwarts. I wanted to support her with all my love. We'd always been the best of friends. But I also was given the gift of Sight at birth and saw clearly what I would be asked to do as a result... lie for her. To my parents, to my friends... to the world. I wasn't fully prepared to send my kid sister off into a perilous career while I dealt with a relentless conscience. But the look in her eyes told me my blessing really wouldn't matter in the end.

"I've got your back, soldier." I smiled. To support her was my only choice.

Bill held his mother tighter. He vowed then and there to never leave her side again. And in a moment of foresight, Bill knew he would never have to. Ginny was coming home.

***

A hooded figure slipped into the unoccupied seat across from her. She nodded, showing that she recognized him for who he was and that she was willing to listen. He slid a black envelope across the table to her. She nodded again. He nodded in return and disappeared. She calmly opened the envelope and withdrew a single sheet of parchment. It was blank. Drawing her wand, she muttered the ancient words. They had become familiar to her tongue, and rolled off with the ease of a native speaker.

Immediately, millions of words scrawled themselves across the page. She whispered the second set of dead words. The words then arranged themselves in a sensible order. A quick glance told her here was not the place to be reading such sensitive material. She shoved the parchment back in its envelope and rose to leave. Not a single waiter approached her. She had trained them well; at least three uniformed men stood not three tables away, watching like hawks for that glint of gold. The tinkle of nine Galleons clinking together signified her Disapparation.

When she arrived at her hotel room, she made a quick check of the security. Nothing had been breeched. She settled down on the cheap sofa and extracted the mysterious envelope from an inner pocket of her robes. She read and reread for hours on end, not daring to believe her own eyes.

***

Bill perched on the retired discipline stool in the far corner of his mother's kitchen. From here, he could give witness to life as it flowed into the kitchen for the first time in five years. Percy was the first to arrive, as always. Punctuality was always Percy's forte. Behind him, a striking wife and three bouncy kids poured in through the back door.

"Mum!"

"Percy, darling!" the two embraced like long lost siblings. It was then that Bill realized how long it had really been. In his head, he knew five years was quite a while, but the fact had just now penetrated his heart. It pierced him with that damned dagger of emotion. Five years of agony. Not knowing where her youngest, most precious child was. Not knowing whether to pray or weep. Not knowing... That was the most difficult part of Bill's job as Confidant. Not letting anyone know.

Charlie was next to parade through, preceded by two brooding teenagers and a radiant yet somewhat flustered wife. Rhiannon was her name. She'd gone to school with Bill. They'd even dated for a while. But she was too clingy. Above anything else, Bill valued his freedom. He had never married and never planned to. Charlie's relationship with his wife personified Bill's feelings toward marriage perfectly. Except for the first few months, nothing but arguments had resulted from that union. She complained that he traveled too much and he complained that she controlled too much. The kids weren't any better. It was such a drastic change from the Charlie that Bill had seen at the Hogwarts' Tri-Wizard Tournament. Bill almost didn't recognize his own brother. But the evidence was as plain as purple fire in the pitch black of the night and there was no denying it.

Fred sauntered through, barely speaking; just smiling and nodding like it was another one of his Public Relations Events. Harry's endorsement had brought an abundance of bright flashes and stage make up to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. If he squinted, Bill could almost make out a touch of the same Fred that locked he and his twin brother in their room over the long summers making things explode, shaking the old Burrow to pieces. Only if he squinted.

Moments later, a Muggle sports car came to a screeching halt in front of the Burrow. A stunning blonde stepped daintily out of the driver's side and strutted up to the front door. She was met by a love struck Fred. The two exchanged passionate kisses. Introductions were made. Bill sensed a slight tension between the blonde and his mother. She was obviously a Muggle, but Molly had never had any strong prejudices against the denser race of Humans. Bill decided now was not the time to confront her about it. He would have plenty of time later to sort out the latest Weasley Family Politics. Ginny was coming home.

***

"What is it?"

"A Human..."

"Really!? Can we touch it?"

"No, I don't think we should. It could be dangerous."

"Jake, we're Dragons... it's a Human! What could be dangerous about it?"

"I don't know... I just have a bad feeling about it."

Ginny swung at the green blobs floating above her. She had no idea where she was or how she got there, but she wasn't about to be taken advantage of.

"AAAAAAAH!!!" The green blobs disappeared amidst distant screams of terror.

Slowly, the world came into focus and Ginny groggily sat up. She was situated atop a natural ledge. Below her, silky green hills sloped down to the ocean. Above her, sheer rock faces prayed to the heavens. The whole scene had an ethereal glow about it.

"Goddess, Ginny!" Jaki's frantic voice rent through the dreamlike state Ginny had wandered into.

"I thought you didn't believe in the Goddess..." Ginny said nonchalantly.

"Well, she definitely believes in you. No one could ever survive a fall like that!" Jaki knelt by Ginny's side and began checking for broken bones.

"Where are we?" Ginny asked, still dazed by her fall and lost in the beauty of this place.

"Drakkonia. Or, more appropriately, The Drakkonian Islands." Jaki smiled. "Told you we'd make it!"

The gears in Ginny's mind creaked along, slowly allowing her to reenter the land of the living. She was in Drakkonia... there was a Ritual to perform... Jaki... Humans... Dragons... Halflings... Home... Home... Home...

"Yeah... I think I remember... Help me up, will you?" Ginny extended her hand and forced herself onto her knees. Still attempting to process the last few hours, Ginny allowed herself to be led down the hill toward a hut that she hadn't spotted earlier. The walk through the fragrant trees and grasses revived Ginny somewhat and by the time she reached the thatch-roofed hut, her mind was fully functional.

Jaki slid the intricately carved wood door to the side and entered. Ginny hesitated. She didn't quite know what to expect. She'd heard all sorts of stories about Dragons. Terrible. Wonderful. Frightening. Fascinating. She didn't know whether to be scared or giddy. When Jaki realized Ginny hadn't followed, her tail whipped out and wrapped itself around Ginny's arm. With a mighty yank, Ginny was inside the hut.

"Ginny! We've heard so much about you!" Before she knew it, Ginny was receiving hugs and kisses from Halflings she'd never met before. They all looked somewhat like Jaki, so she assumed they were the relatives who had come to attend the Ritual. Ginny noticed an older woman with Jaki's brilliant green eyes; a young boy with her wings; and an extremely handsome man about her age who looked like none of the assembled family members. He made his way to the front of the crowd swarming around Ginny. With out words, he embraced her. His wings slid around and enveloped the two of them in a hunter green cocoon.

"Hello, Ginny." He kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I need to tell you something because I know Jaki hasn't worked up the guts to tell you yet."

"Okay..." Ginny wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation, although she could definitely see the benefits of having wings in public places.

"We'd like you to participate in the Ritual. Actually, Jaki needs you to participate. That's why we allowed you passage to our Drakkonia. The Ritual involves a rather complicated dance, which symbolizes the overthrow of Dragon dominance in Jaki's blood. A local Dragoness will participate as the symbol of Jaki's Dragon half. But you, as a true Human, will be needed to represent the Human side of Jaki... You think you can do that for her?"

Ginny was stunned. She had entered into this adventure as a mere bystander. Moral support only. A complicated dance with a Dragoness wasn't exactly what she defined as 'moral support'. Ginny looked up and locked eyes with the Halfling whose arms were still wrapped around her waist. His eyes were gorgeous. Perfectly shaped and brilliantly colored. They seemed to tell her that there was nothing to worry about. He would take care of her.

"Yes."

***

Coming up Next: More scenes from the Burrow, including George's arrival and the latest scoop on the Ron/Hermione 'ship! Also, the Ritual is defined and Ginny gets a clear picture of exactly what her part in it is. She doesn't exactly like the idea, but friendship will surmount any hurdle. Oh, and Drakkonian cuisine. Yummm!

If you liked this story, please check out Irina's stories, The Rebirth and Galatea. She's one of the greatest and most original fan fic authors I've read in a long time! Just tell her Adrienne sent you over and she'll hook you up.