Where It All Began

Before Harry could leave, Ginny caught his arm, saying, “Harry, if Ron didn’t kill the baby, maybe he gave it away. I am going to find out what happened to that child, for both of them. I love you so much. Please find a way to make this right.” She was still crying.

Harry pulled her close again and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Yes, I saw what the news did to Percy. When I get back here, I’ll send to your mum to come take over the watch. You stay until I get back. Love you, too, Gin. We’ll get this sussed out for them. I swear it. Keep Viktor here. He can come to the house and stay when he isn’t at her bedside. I don’t want anything to happen to him, either.”

Harry stopped to speak to Kingsley, who had been apprised of developments by Percy.

“Harry, this is a right bloody mess. We have to find Weasley. He must be totally insane. She was already married to Krum when Weasley compelled her. This is going to be a nightmare.”

“No, Kingsley, it won’t. Viktor won’t let it become an international issue. He just wants his wife and, hopefully, his child back.”

“Child? I’ll have the records searched. Percy is desperate to ameliorate all this. He looked ill when he told me about the handfasting. He’ll look the records over with a fine-tooth comb. He would love to bring that child back to them. I’ll stay here with Ginny while you’re gone.”

Harry nodded and moved off to the lifts. He shamelessly used his celebrity to grab the first available Floo to get to Hogwarts. He emerged into the Headmistress’ office and found Minerva going over student records.

“Why, Harry, how nice to see you. There is a problem, isn’t there? I can tell by the look in your eyes. What is it?”

“I can’t tell you right now, Minerva. But, could I borrow one of Alastor’s Foe-Glasses? It is needed at St. Mungo’s for Hermione.” He knew that name would make Minerva take notice.

Just then, Alastor Moody walked into the office. “Hello, Potter. What brings you here?”

“Alastor, he needs one or two of the Foe-Glasses. Hermione is in St. Mungo’s and they are needed there.”

“That prat Weasley hurt her, did he? You’ll have all three and whatever else I have that you want. I knew she shouldn’t have married that cretin.”

Harry grinned at Alastor’s words and replied, “It is a long story, but suffice it to say that she isn’t really married to Ron at all. Her actual husband has come to take care of her until she is healed.”

Alastor went into their rooms and brought back a bag of Foe-Glasses. “You’ll have to key them to her. The spell is simple. Put her hand on the glass and cast Protego. If I know my Min, we’ll be there later. You have a watch set up, too, don’t you? The real husband, would that be Viktor Krum? Thought so. Best man for her.”

“Yes, thanks for these. Gin is there right now and Molly will be there later. It is up to Viktor to explain all of this, if he will.”

Minerva took one of Alastor’s hands in hers, saying, “Goddess speed, Harry. We’ll be there soon.”

Once Harry had gone back through the Floo, Minerva thrust all the papers into a desk drawer and looked at her husband.

“That rotten, idiotic, smarmy, little excuse for a human being. Poor Viktor, and poor Hermione. We have to go, Alastor. Figure out what they might need to catch Ronald, and we’ll bring it with us. Doesn’t that boy know that Viktor learned the Dark Arts better than any other student at Durmstrang? He will flay Ronald alive when he finds him.”

“I think there’ll be a lot of us to aid and abet him if he needs it. For all that he learned at that school, Viktor Krum will never be a Dark Wizard. He has too much love in his heart, Min. He is a decent man: kind, gentle, and very, very private. Let me round up some things. I’ll have it ready in a bit.”

Harry arrived back at St. Mungo’s and opened the door to Hermione’s room. He found Viktor still holding her hand and talking to her gently. Tears were streaming down his face, however. Harry closed the door and went to sit next to Ginny.

“Has he been out of there at all?”

“Just for a minute. He talked to the Healer and then went back in. Kingsley stuck around until just a few minutes ago. If anyone can find out about that baby, it will be Perce. I sent to Mum and Dad. They are calling in Charlie and Bill. I’ll send to the twins when I leave here. Besides, you need to tell Neville. Luna is scrying for Ron, but no luck so far.”

“When we leave, I’ll see if we can get Viktor to come to the house. I want to talk to him away from here. I know there is more to this than he has told us. Let’s go set these Foe-Glasses up, and I’ll send to Molly.”

The Foe-Glasses were set up outside the room and by the lifts. Viktor consulted with the Healer for a minute and gave the man a phial of potion.

“Use this to keep her asleep until I return. Is three parts Dreamless Sleep to one part Felix Felicis."

“That should certainly improve her chances for full recovery. Thank you, Gospodin Krum.”

Molly had arrived minutes before and was talking to Minerva and Alastor. Minerva excused herself and came to Viktor. Without a word, she put her arms around him and hugged.

“I am so sorry, dear, dear boy. We had no idea this was going on. Alastor and I will do whatever we can to help.”

Viktor smiled weakly at her and kissed her cheek, murmuring, “Thank you, Madam Headmistress. I appreciate that.”

Alastor walked up to Harry and said quietly, “I hope you are taking him to your place. He looks like he’s ready to drop. What the bloody hell happened?”

“I can’t tell you, Alastor. It is his story. It looks like Minerva is going to stay with Molly for a bit and watch over Hermione. You come to the house and she can follow. I’m going to take the overnight watch in a few hours. Oho, Kingsley sent in Ministry Security to augment the Aurors. Let me go have a word with them.”

As Harry approached the security force, their leader was speaking to Viktor. “Ambassador, we have orders to handle security for your wife while she is in hospital. Minister Shacklebolt sends his assurances that all efforts are being made to discover Ronald Weasley’s whereabouts.”

Viktor thanked the younger man and walked to where Harry stood.

“Ambassador? Vik, what is this?”

“The Minister is my godfather, Harry. This way I haff diplomatic immunity. I think I vill need it if I efer get my hands on Veasley.” The bitterness and hatred sounded clearly in Viktor’s words.

Harry just nodded. “Come on, Vik, you can stay at our house. You look worn out.”

“Thank you. She vill sleep for twelf to fourteen hours. I must be back in morning to look into her mind and remove the vorst of the memories. I had almost despaired of finding her alife. Forgiff me if I seem distant. I do not mean to be.” He laid a hand on Harry’s shoulder and squeezed.

“Alastor is coming to the house to see what other security measures we can take. You should probably talk to him alone.”

“No, I vill tell you and Ginevra vhat happened. It vas all my fault. I should neffer haff told her to go make peace vith Veasley.”