Magical Pets, Rats, and Tests (Part Four)

Molly reached out and pulled Ginny into her arms. Ginny's body was stiff as a frozen branch. She didn't push Molly away, but she didn't lean into her either.

She just sat there, rigid, as if she didn't know how to respond to a hug.

Molly rested her chin on Ginny's head, her eyes reddening. She didn't know what was wrong with Ginny or why her daughter had become like this. She only knew that the little girl who had once chased Gnomes through the garden, laughing brighter than the sun, now sat in her arms like a ceramic jar that had been hollowed out, leaving only a shell that might shatter at the slightest touch.

The moment Ginny withdrew her hand from the rune array, Molly was ready to take her away. Her heart felt heavy, as though a waterlogged rag had been stuffed inside it. She didn't know what "incompatible magical frequency" meant, but one look at Ginny's expressionless face told her the explanation meant nothing to her daughter—either Ginny didn't care, or she could no longer bring herself to.

"Let's go to Diagon Alley," Molly said, her voice trembling. "Mum will buy you your favorite toffee pudding."

Ginny said nothing. She buried her face in the crook of Molly's shoulder and closed her eyes. The doll slipped off her lap and fell facedown onto the floor, its two black button eyes pressed against the dark red carpet like eyes staring into the darkness without seeing a thing.

Molly bent down, picked up the doll, dusted it off, and tucked it back into Ginny's arms. Then she took Ginny's hand and headed for the door.

The woman in the full-face mask stood behind the round table, watching Molly lead Ginny out of the room. Her gaze rested on