Hiding in Plain Sight (A Hinny Fanfiction)

She's My Little Angel

"The Shroud isn't in there. It doesn't feel any different than the rest of the room," Harry explained once he dragged Ginny back to a corner of the room and cast a Muffliato charm so they weren't overheard. "I think you were right the whole time. Bringing out the Shroud just for a party wasn't worth the risk."

"But you say the actual one is somewhere in the building?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, absolutely."

"So this is a decoy. We just need to find the real one. No big deal."

"Okay, but how do we get away and look for it?" Harry questioned.

Ginny tilted her head and counted the number of security guards around the room, not to mention the church personnel in frocks and a few of the members of the police she recognized from yesterday's lunch. The two guards who brought in the fake Shroud were perched next to the cabinet, pretending to guard a priceless artifact. All in all, the people tasked with protecting the Shroud outnumbered the partygoers. The only others were the catering staff, who were starting to prepare buffet tables at the opposite end of the room.

"We wait until dinner is served. There will be much more movement to distract the guards. How's your Disillusionment Charm?"

"Not great. I've always had the Invisibility Cloak. We'd have to move really slow and I'd have to recast it every few minutes."

Ginny nodded. "It's better than nothing. Maybe we won't need it."

Out of the corner of her eye, Ginny could see a man trying to look much too casual as he walked directly toward them. It was the leader of the police from the lunch yesterday. She quickly cancelled the Privacy Charm before the man could wonder why Harry and Ginny's lips were moving but nothing could be heard. He had extended a hand to Harry before even coming to a stop.

"Mr. James. Mrs. James. I'm John Cleary. I helped put together tonight's festivities. Thank you for your generosity." He introduced himself with a bow. "I just wanted to make sure everything was to your liking." Harry took his hand and shook. Cleary turned to Ginny and they did the same. Up close, the man was even more calculating than they thought, with piercing grey eyes and a receding hairline that said more about his experience and the action he's seen than any story he could tell.

"It's been wonderful, Mr. Cleary. We don't often have a chance to go out by ourselves anymore, with the children and all," Ginny replied. Harry glanced at her sideways.

"Oh? I have a couple myself. How old are yours?"

Harry opened his mouth but Ginny beat him to the answer, narrowing her eyes. "Six, four, and two."

Cleary purposefully turned to Harry. "Two was a difficult age, I remember. Mine are 15 and 17. A girl and a boy. The girl drives me spare these days." Harry and Ginny both struggled to stay stone-faced. There's no way he could know about them - the real them - could he?

Harry blinked. "Yes, I imagine. She's... my little angel, but I know it won't be that way forever."

Cleary laughed. "Too right, Mr. James. Too right. So, how long are you in Turin for?"

Harry reminded himself to keep his answers shorter. Less chance of giving anything away. "This is our last stop. We're leaving tomorrow morning."

The policeman nodded, his eyes never leaving Harry's. Ginny wondered if he thought Harry was the weakest link. If he only knew, she thought. Cleary then clapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Well, I hope you and your lovely wife had a wonderful time in our city. I've taken up enough of your time." He turned to leave, then turned on his heel with his hands behind his back. "Oh! I know the Archbishop will ask. He's always curious about these things. From which parish do you hail back home?"