The return

It was a normal spring evening in the Potter household, but the evening peace was interrupted by an intense banging on the door. Ginny Potter went to open it. Outside, she saw a very agitated Minister for Magic, about to burst through the door before she had time to open for her.

"Hermione? Come in. Would you like some dinner? We were about to sit down to eat."

Hermione was inside before she had even finished speaking. "No, thank you Ginny, this is urgent Ministry business. I need to talk to Harry. Now." Hermione was worried about something. It must be important, since she came at this hour.

"He is upstairs," Ginny answered. "What has happened?"

Hermione darted for the stairs, rushing up two steps at the time. Ginny hesitated for a few moments, but then decided to follow after her. She wanted to know what could have brought Hermione so out of sorts. She usually stayed calm and collected in all circumstances, except when Ron did something to make her laugh. Or sigh.

She found the two in Harry's home office, whispering and looking concerned.

"… Confirmed?"

"Yes. All individual sightings. This, combined with the escape from Azkaban? It can't be a coincidence, Harry".

"I agree. But how can this happen? How can he be back, after all these years?" Harry also looked worried, but more than that, he looked angry. It took a lot to make him angry. This made Ginny more worried as well. Something that would upset both Harry and Hermione?

"He did it before."

"Yes, but the first time he just disappeared. Last time, we saw the body. There has to be another explanation for this."

Ginny decided it was time to let the other two know she was there. She took another step into the room. "Are you going to tell me what's going on here?" she asked.

Harry and Hermione both looked up when they realised that she was there. Well, if they had not wanted her to hear them, they should at least have closed the door.

After a brief hesitation, Harry handed her a piece of parchment. As she read it, she understood why they were worried. The parchment told of an old nightmare that may have returned. Lord Voldemort had been seen at multiple locations all over Britain.

"How is this possible?" Ginny exclaimed after her initial shock.

"We don't know yet. But it is probably connected to the 6 Death Eaters that escaped from Azkaban last week," Hermione answered before Harry had a chance to say anything.

"Wait, what? There has been a breakout from Azkaban? Why haven't you told me about this?" Ginny looked towards her husband with a stern expression on her face.

Harry was forcefully reminded of Molly Weasley when she looked at him like that. Ginny was a lot like her mother in many ways.

"I assumed Harry had told you." Hermione also looked at Harry. He still looked down, not meeting either woman's accusing stare. Was that some expression all women learned at one point?

"I didn't want you to worry. We assumed we would find them quickly. But now, with this…"

"Now we need to let the public know. They need to be vigilant. And I will not hide things from the public any longer than necessary. I will not be another Fudge," Hermione declared, raising herself up, once again in control, the very picture of the Minister for Magic in charge of the situation. "Harry, we need to go. We need to send out a press release tonight."

"I'll alert everyone in Dumbledore's Army. They need to be careful; the Death Eaters may be after revenge," Ginny added. But she gave her husband one last look, the we'll-talk-about-this-later look. Harry was relieved to be able to follow Hermione down the stairs again, just so he could avoid his wife's gaze.

"Yes, a good idea. And I think that both of our families should relocate to the Burrow. That is the house with the most security, even after all these years. This house could quickly become a target."

As Harry and Hermione ran out the door, Ginny started sending out owls.