avada | ginny weasley

chapter one

" lights will guide you home
and ignite your bones "

The summer air was frighteningly silent as Ginny Weasley stood as far out of the doorway as her mother allowed her to, her eyes squinting up at the sky. Tonight was the night that Harry Potter would leave his home and break the Trace. It was the night that would allow everything to fall into place or completely fall apart. Ginny had begun her vigil minutes after everyone had left. Everyone, that is, except for her mum and herself.

"Ginny, dear, you've been waiting for almost an hour," Mrs. Weasley called out from the kitchen. "They'll come back when they come back, and they'll be fine."

But Ginny could hear the worry in her mother's voice. Nothing was certain anymore, especially not survival. The watch on her wrist was ticking down the seconds until everyone would return home.

"It'll be any second now, Mum," Ginny said reassuringly, her eyes not leaving the horizon.

Then, she saw it. Out of nowhere, a soft blue light glowed, and rusty oil can popped into existence in the yard.

"It's a Portkey!" Ginny shouted while sprinting out of the house. "The first one's here!"

"Ron?!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, following her daughter. "Ron!"

But Ginny's run slowed as she looked around. There was the oil can, but there was no Ron or Tonks in sight. Just an empty yard. They weren't here.

Mrs. Weasley was panting heavily as she stopped beside her daughter. "Where are they?" she asked aloud.

"They missed it," Ginny responded dully.

Silence spread over the mother and daughter as they stared at the old oil can. As always, Hermione had been right; the plan could go wrong. And here it was. Ginny's brother was gone, and the possibility of him being hurt or dead was all too high.

"Ah, well, their Portkey was early, anyways. I'm sure Tonks will Apparate them both back here any second," Mrs. Weasley said, her voice much higher than normal. "Let's go back into the house, eh?"

Ginny allowed her mother to put her hand on her shoulder and guide her away from the oil can. They walked across the yard in silence, both pretending not to be thinking the same thoughts.

Ron would be fine. Tonks was a very good Auror; she had been one for years. Besides, Ron could take care of himself. If he hadn't died yet at the side of Harry during all his years at Hogwarts, then what could kill him now?

"Next will be Dad and Fred's," Mrs. Weasley said once they had reached the house, interrupting Ginny's thoughts. "They'll be here soon, and maybe they'll know where Tonks and Ron are."

Ginny found herself nodding, but the gesture was empty. Her heart felt numb inside her chest as she stood in the doorway, resuming her vigil.

Only a few minutes had passed before it happened again. This time, it was an old shoe. And, just as before, the Portkey didn't carry anyone.