Bad [Harry Potter Fanfiction] (Bad Series: 1)

36 | Handled

No matter where Harry looked, he couldn't find Ginny anywhere. At least without going upstairs. He stared at the main staircase, scratching his head. It was an extravagant that wound up to the second floor with black bannisters and thick green carpet. Everywhere on the first floor was empty, every nook and cranny he could see.

Could he go upstairs without drawing attention to himself? He glanced around. The others would be looking for him soon. It would have to be quick.

As he reached the first step, he caught sight of a door, ajar, a few feet away from the left side of the stairs. Frowning, he stepped back and inched towards the door. He hadn't checked this area. He hadn't even known this door was here. It was so thoroughly hidden, he would've completely missed it if it hadn't been opened and he hadn't looked down at the precise moment.

Not to mention, the likelihood that she was in there was close to zero, but he had to look.

"Damn you, Ginny," he muttered. "What're you looking for?"

He reached for the door when whispers came through. He leaned back against the wall and peeked in. The angle was all wrong. Bugger. He tried again, but all he saw this time was a dark green gown. A woman? She moved, paced. But only her. He heard someone else too. Who? He couldn't see anything from the other person.

The woman spoke again. "Must we do this now? The party is in full swing."

"Pansy, there's no need to complain," the other said. Harry didn't recognize the voice, but it was a man. Who was it? But the woman was Pansy Parkinson. What was she doing away from her own party?

Harry tried to see the man again but still nothing. He must be sitting or standing against the same wall as Harry.

"But-"

"Don't say my name," the man hissed. "You don't know who could be listening."

Harry stiffened. Did he know Harry was there? There was no way. He had to be being cautious. That was it.

"Is it safe?" Pansy asked.

"Yes, it's safe from her," he said.

"I can't believe she tried to steal the Black Locket," Pansy hissed. "How dare she!"

The Black Locket. That tugged at a memory. Earlier in Ginny's flat, the stack of paper he'd seen. One of them had a sketch of a necklace, a locket maybe? Was that Black Locket? If it was, why did she have that? And why were Pansy and this man talking about it? And did Pansy mean Ginny?

A shiver shot down his spine.

"It's safe," he reminded her. "I have handled it."

Handled it? The world stopped. Handled it? What did he mean? Ginny?

"Perfect," Pansy said. There was a pause, where neither spoke.

"What is it?" the man asked.

"There was a situation." Another pause. "But I took care of it. He does need to be moved, however," Pansy said.

"Taken care- Never mind. Your mess, you handle it." The man moved, his voice closer to Harry. He still didn't recognize it. "We'll meet in half an hour."

"Yes."

The room fell quiet, and the creaking of another door opened, but his mind flooded with what he just heart. Ginny? Handled. Was she...

No, he needed to find her. He needed to find her right now.

He shook his head, leaning against the wall. He couldn't move. His legs were numb, his throat dry. His heart pounded. Merlin.

They didn't say Ginny was dead.

But he couldn't breathe. He laid his hand on his chest. God, he was suffocating. Panic welled up inside him.

No! His mind screamed. Get it together, Potter. Ginny's in trouble. Find her!

He pushed away from the wall and stumbled. He stopped and took a deep breath. He needed to do this. Now wasn't the time to lose his legs.

Footsteps came from the room. Harry quickly muttered the disillusionment charm, twirling his wand around him. Blue light engulfed him. He hated this spell, but without his invisibility cloak, he had no choice.

Pansy stepped out of the room, dark hair up in an elegant do. The dark green gown was strapless and dragged on the floor as she passed him. For a moment, he waited for the man to appear but he never did. Shite. There must be another door. He did hear a door opening a few minutes ago. He missed the man.

Instead of returning to ballroom, however, Pansy walked down the side corridor that led to the door Ginny and he had slipped out from. Where was she going?

For a second, he thought about following her, but he couldn't. Ginny was in danger. He had to find her.

He rushed to the ballroom. Maybe they were lying. Maybe she returned, and they were talking about some other woman. She had to be in there.

The ballroom was like an explosion of color when he stepped inside. Gowns, robes, decorations, it was an ocean. Too much and he was blinded by it. He forced his eyes to adjust, find the one woman he needed. She should stand out with that flaming hair and white dress. There was no sign of her. His heart pounded so hard, it blocked out any sound but his breaths. He walked the ballroom, searching, and frantically searching for the littlest of a glimpse.

But there was nothing.

He couldn't find her. He needed to search the rest of the manor. She wasn't here on this floor. Maybe upstairs? She was in trouble, what the bloody hell was he doing? He needed to hurry u.

"Harry? Is something wrong?" Someone grabbed his arm. It was a man.

Ron! He recognized him. Bollocks. He wanted to scream and curse and hex anyone that kept him away from Ginny. Ron was the last person he wanted to see right now.

"Have you spotted Fyrefox?" Ron's gaze shot towards the center of the ballroom.

Not now, Ron! But he couldn't say anything. No one knew. No one could know about Ginny.

If Ron found out, he'd be another accessory to this crime. His best mate would occupy another cell, maybe right next to his in Azkaban. He couldn't let that happen. Ginny would never forgive him. Not to mention Hermione.

Think, Potter!

Ah! "Search for Pansy Parkinson," he finally said. "She might know something about the item Fyrefox is searching for."

"Do you really think she'll- Harry!" Ron called, but Harry was shooting across the side of the ballroom to reach the first available door.

Let everyone search for Pansy and maybe they'll find out about the situation she mentioned. While they did that, he would search the entire manor if he had to, to find Ginny.

She had to be here. Merlin, she had to be here somewhere. And safe.

*

Oh no. Oh no. God. What the hell is going to happen? What's going on? Stuff is going down! What do you think comes next?

Well, this is early, but in honor of 9 years on Wattpad, I've decided to give all you lovelies a little surprise/present. It's because of you that I keep writing and why I'm still here. You keep me going, keep me inspired. Thank you so much for sticking with me after all these years. I love you so much.

And remember, stay safe and healthy and kind. Always <3