Hiding in Plain Sight (A Hinny Fanfiction)

Stop Being Noble

The second red jet of light gave Ginny just enough time to use herself to cover Harry's prone form and protect them with a shield charm. The curse fizzled out against the invisible barrier.

"We've... got to... find cover," Harry groaned. "One of those columns." He indicated by shooting his eyes to the side, his hands still clutching his scar. He pushed himself up to a crawling position. With a nod, he and Ginny found enough momentum to propel themselves behind a shiny marble column, about four feet in diameter.

Harry was still trying to regain his focus and block out the pain from the immense Horcrux, so Ginny was free to figure out what was going on.

"Perceval, what are you doing?" she called down the chapel, the sound echoing off the stone walls.

"Imagine my luck when the enemies of my master fell right into my lap. They even sought me out!"

"Voldemort is just using you, Perceval," she replied. "He uses everyone to achieve his goals. You won't be rewarded. You'll probably be killed." She then fired her own stunner at the priest, trying to keep him off-balance.

"As if I could be one of those so-called Death Eaters," Father Perceval responded, derision dripping from his voice. "Sycophants of the self-styled 'Dark Lord'. There is only one true dark wizard. I served him for decades, faithfully. And you took him from me!" To further underline his point, Perceval sent a screaming jolt of green at Harry and Ginny's column. It landed short and burrowed into the floor, spraying the pair with flecks of polished marble. Even in his weakened state, alarm crossed Harry's face at the sight of a Killing Curse. It was the first time Ginny had seen one and briefly remembered Harry's description of it during a meeting of Dumbledore's Army. He was right; the green light is off-putting enough, but it's the sound that truly shoves the fear down your throat. It's higher-pitched than other curses, just to make sure it's noticed. She swallowed.

"You mean Grindelwald?" she asked. The answer was a poorly-aimed Blasting Hex.

Ginny looked down to find Harry had rolled on his side and was surveying the battlefield from the other side of the column.

"He needs a better angle. He'll probably head for that fountain," he guessed, pointing to
a bubbling fountain with a statue of a baby angel rising out of the pool. "I need to get there first!" He gnashed his teeth and snarled in an effort to get to his feet. The pressure in his head was still too great. Ginny clasped around his upper arm.

"You can barely stand. I'll go." Harry was allowed one syllable of protest before a fierce lock brought his thoughts to a conclusion.

"Besides, I'm faster than you," she told him with a wink.

"You're going to need some cover. I'll shoot some curses to put him on the defensive."

"No need. l've got another distraction in mind that won't reveal your position."

"What is it?" But Harry asked too late. Ginny was already turned toward the target.

"Would you like to hear how Gellert Grindelwald died, Father? How he begged me to take his life?"

"No! That is not possible. He fought. You were the weak ones, ambushing him—"

He cut off his diatribe when he saw Ginny had already sprinted across the chapel to the fountain. Now the Father was cornered.

"It's true," she resumed her speech. "But in the end, he took his own life. He had lost hope for a better future. You and the rest of your disgusting group let him down."

"Liar!"

Ginny turned to check on Harry. He had finally gained a crouched position, although he was still grimacing.