Shadows

Chapter Thirteen: In-Between

The rain was cold and felt more like tiny spears of ice than water on Ginny's unprotected face. It had hailed the night before, and the night before that the temperature had nearly dropped below freezing. Now that a thick fog clung to the ground, the air around her head was a bit clearer. She could see a few feet ahead of herself – just not the ground. She prayed with every step she didn't fall or come across a steep hill unexpectedly. Her face was bare and frozen and would certainly be cut in the fall.

The rest of her was covered by Muggle clothing, so she could blend in better in those little towns she had to pass through. She wore heavy hiking boots and thick wool socks, warm trousers made of some sort of soft yet durable fabric, a white tank top covered by a dark blue T-shirt covered by one of the scarlet and gold sweaters her mother had made her, and a long winter cloak, the hood pulled over her red hair. On her hands she wore brown dragonhide gloves and strapped to her back was a brown bag filled with other clothing, minimal Wizarding money from her father's wallet, even less Muggle money from her father's collection, her wand, a cotton blanket, and some food, mostly things that wouldn't spoil like dried fruit and jerky and pickled veggies. In her left hand, she carried her broom. All in all, she was ready for an adventure – though a bit ill-prepared.

Ginny had nearly arrived at her destination, a little Muggle town that was rather old and run-down. She could see the lights of it not far off in the distance, and could already smell it. It smelled of pollution and tobacco and dirt. And as she approached, the buildings were awash in brown, the road was covered in dirt and grime, and even the lighting was a brownish-yellow. There was so much of the color that it reminded her of a sepia photo her father had shown her once.

Men and women lined the streets in drab Muggle clothing, looking worn and angry. Some shouted at each other in the street, some sat holding signs asking for change, and some looked around themselves constantly as though they were afraid of being followed.

Ginny almost fit in with this crowd perfectly. She kept her head low, but looked around herself, in constant fear that Harry or her father or someone would find her before her mission was completed. This was far too important. Her freedom was too important to be stopped before she'd even really begun to work for it.

It's tall, four stories, with a rusting iron gate around it.

Tom had mostly been quiet since she'd told him her secret, and Ginny considered this a blessing. She didn't have to deal with his mocking of her, or just the sound of his voice reminding her that he knew now and causing her to blush. He barely spoke, and when he did he only gave her basic instructions – turn left, turn right, make camp, don't look that man in the eye, go to this place or that place. She followed each one unquestioningly, but what choice did she have? She didn't know where she was going or what it was she needed to retrieve. She just knew it was this city and she needed some item of his. That was all she needed to know, really. Her focus was on gaining her freedom...no matter the cost. It was probably better if she didn't know.

She walked down the streets for a while, catching the glance of some of the residents but mostly being ignored. They had their own, non-magically altered lives to lead. And so far, there was no sign of Harry or any search party.

There it is, Tom's voice pointed out. Ginny glanced around herself, and spotted the building he was talking about: A tall, brick building that was only a few redder shades away from being brown, surrounded by a tall iron gate completely covered with rust the same color as the building. The windows were covered by iron bars and boarded shut, and the gate had a chain lock wrapped around it.

"I need to go inside?" she whispered, hoping no one would hear her and think she was a crazy woman walking around talking to herself.

Don't be stupid, Ginevra. Of course you do. I'm not asking you to pick up a stone outside of the gates.