Destiny Unknown
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, though I wish I did.
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
Ginny sat there, staring at him. He looked so beautiful, yet was an object she knew she'd never touch. Her Harry. She had been pining over him since she met him at King's Cross Station sending her brother off to Hogwarts for the first year. Now it was her fifth year, his sixth year, and he had finally admitted his feelings for Hermoine. They sat there now, cuddling against one another near the fire. And she, Virginia Weasley, watched as she did her homework. She felt her heart almost rip in two at the sight. Feeling as though she were about to cry, she stood up suddenly, grabbed her cloak and ran out of the room. She just had to get away. Away from everything hurting her. She knew the spot too. The tree on top of a hill that she could see outside her window. It had a beautiful view of the setting sun. She ran through the halls and out of the building, ignoring the people staring at her. She just had to get out.
She started walking once she got outside the building, walking and wishing that she had never felt those feelings for him. She sat down at the tree and watched the sun as is set, the vibrant colors it sent across the sky, the shades of blue, red, and orange it had painted on the clouds. Sighing, she leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes. She listened to the sounds around her. The chirping of the crickets, the soft twittering of birds settling down for the night. She noticed one sound though, one sound that did not belong, the sound of someone crying. Looking around, she saw someone sitting underneath a tree close by, their head in their hands, slumped against a tree, crying. Wondering who it was, she got up and walked over there, sitting down in front of the person. Looking closer, she saw silvery blonde hair. It was Malfoy. Fighting the urge to mock him, she just spoke quietly. "Draco?"
Draco looked up to see coffee brown eyes written with concern staring back at him, fiery hair falling around her face. Virginia Weasley. Suddenly remembering his reputation, he put on a scowl and mumbled "What do you want Weasel?"
Rolling her eyes, Ginny stared back at him. "Don't give me that scowling crap. You don't mean a damn thing by it. I'm not going to say anything to anyone if that's what you're worried about. I just came to ask what's wrong."
Draco just stared. She had seen past the scowl to the pain he felt within. And after all the teasing, the tormenting, the taunting he put her and her family through, she still came to see what was wrong, like so many he knew hadn't. Tearing again, he reached into his robes and pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to her, putting his head back in his hands and crying again. Instinctively, she sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulders, pulling him to her. For a brief moment he resisted before finally collapsing and crying into her shoulder. She rubbed his back as her mom would do when she was upset. She opened the parchment as she was comforting him and read what was there, a look of shock growing as she read on.
Son,
You are to go to the Riddle home this Saturday. There you will be branded with the mark of the Death Eater. You have no choice in this matter. You either serve Lord Voldemort or you will die.
Lucius Malfoy
The look of shock still evident on her face, she put both her arms around him now, hugging him as he cried on. Quietly, she whispered to him "Draco, you don't want to be a Death Eater, do you? Your father is forcing you to do this?"
Draco took a few steadying breaths and calmed himself enough to sit up and look at her. "No, I've never wanted too. My father always expected me to become on. Carry on the supremacy of the Malfoy name son. Serve the Dark Lord son. Any time I'd tell him I didn't want to become a Death Eater he'd beat me, tell me I was a mistake, unwanted. Don't you see Virginia," he pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "I don't have a choice. I serve Voldemort or die. There's no middle ground. And he really will kill me. He doesn't care about me. He just sees me as another minion of Voldemort." Sighing, he leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes, trying to regain his composure.
Ginny just sat there listening to him, hearing his story of what his father was like. How could anyone be so cruel to their own child she thought. How could anyone force them to serve Voldemort? Reaching up with the edge of her robes, she wiped away his tears, then spoke to him.
"Draco, I can't begin to pretend to know what you're going through. But you hold in your hand proof of where Voldemort will be."
Draco looked into her eyes as he realized what she was saying. "Are you saying I should turn this letter over to the Ministry? My father would kill me for sure," he exclaimed, shuddering at the thought.
Sighing, she looked at him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "No. I'm saying tell Dumbledore. He would know what to do. If they can end Lord Voldemort's reign, you would be free of your father's wish for you to become a Death Eater. It might even stop the rest of the Death Eaters." Standing up, she held out her hand to him. "Come on. It's the only way Draco."
He stared up at her, a look of wonderment and respect on his face. This youngest Weasley, she wasn't like everyone else, not bothering to try to get past his ruff exterior, the look and presence his father had worked into him. Yet in the time he had been talking to her and she had been comforting him he had felt more at ease and connected with her than he did with anyone he ever knew. Taking her hand, he got up and stood there. Neither one seemed willing to move. Ginny, glancing down, noticed that she was still holding his hand. Blushing furiously, she quickly let go of his hand and looked down. Looking up, she smiled sheepishly at him. "Come on. We better go tell Dumbledore."
They walked back to the castle, talking about nothing in particular, both purposely avoiding the subject of Voldemort. They walked into the castle, heading for Dumbledore's office. Arriving at the two gargoyles guarding the entrance, she suddenly realized that she didn't know the password. Luckily for them, or rather unluckily, Snape came out of his office.
"Mr. Malfoy, what are you doing wandering the halls?" Glancing at Ginny, he added "What did she do?"
"Nothing sir. We have an urgent message for Professor Dumbledore and need to see him right away."
Glaring, he was about to ask what the message could be when Dumbledore walked out of the office. Noticing the two of them, he politely asked "Ginny, Draco, was there something you needed?" Draco kept glancing nervously at Snape, unwilling to say anything in front of him, knowing he bore the Dark Mark. He may say he was working as a double agent but he still didn't trust him. Dumbledore noticed this and ushered them into his office. Ginny and Draco went up the stairs and into his office, sitting in the two chairs facing his desk.
"So, Ginny, Draco, what is there that I can do for you," Dumbledore asked, noticing their nervousness. Draco was seized up, wondering if what he was about to do was the right thing. He would be defying his father, attempting to bring down Voldemort, going against everything he had ever known. He shifted uneasily in his chair. Ginny glanced over at him, noticing his discomfort and nervousness. She reached over and put a hand on his shoulder and said "Go on Draco. Show him the letter."
Reassured by this, he reached in his robes and handed Dumbledore the letter. Sitting back in the chair, he shuddered, knowing what he had just done could cost him greatly. If there was an attack they would know he had been the one to tell where Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters were.
Dumbledore read the letter over and over again, grasping what was said in the message. Looking up at Draco, he had a grave look on his face, the twinkle in his eyes gone.
"Draco, you realize that I will have to call the Order of the Pheonix together. The Ministry will not know about this. Fudge won't believe us and if he did your father would be arrested. This is the best lead we've had yet as to where he is. If we can surprise them we could get all the Death Eaters and vanquish Voldemort once and for all." Sighing, he glanced at Ginny. "Ginny, you are not to tell anyone of this."
"I know that Professor. Nobody will know I can assure you. If there's anything I can do to help, I would be more than glad to."
Draco looked at her, a look of shock evident on his face. She was willing to help him? Why? He didn't want her to be involved. She might get hurt. Why was he caring for her though? Turning to her, he looked into her eyes. "Virginia, I don't want you to get hurt. Please, don't get involved. Please." She looked into his eyes, seeing concern for her. They just stared at each other, oblivious to Dumbledore's being there.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, watching this exchange, the twinkle in his eyes shining brightly. Chuckling slightly to himself, he thought about the two of them. Draco, he thought, keep a hold on her. She might be your saving grace. Something about Ginny struck him, like she possessed some untapped sort of power. Shrugging this off, he turned back to Draco. "Draco, this is going to be very hard on you. You must write your father back. Make sure he thinks you're coming alone, that you seem enthusiastic about this. He must not get a clue about what we must plan. If you'll both excuse me, I need to recall the Order of the Pheonix. We must begin planning at once. We've only a few days."
Draco paled at this realization. Only a few days. In a few days his fate would be known, whether he lived or died. Whether Voldemort would be brought down or empowered. Ginny noticed this and looked back at Dumbledore. "Professor, may we go to the kitchen and get some food now? I don't believe that either of us feels much like sleeping right now." Nodding, Dumbledore sent them on their way. Halfway down the steps of his office, Draco turned to Ginny. "How did I ever get you involved? Now they're going to come after you too just because I know you. My father hates your father anyway. He'd want to kill you just because you're you. Why? Why did you have to get involved?" His tears started anew. His heart ached at the thought she might not be safe. Here was this girl, practically risking her life just by talking to him. Why? Why was she doing this?
Ginny reached up and touched his cheek. "Draco, just because everyone else sees you as an ass doesn't mean I do. I got involved because I wanted to. There's nothing more we can do about it until tomorrow." She sighed, glancing down the stairs. She tried to stifle a yawn, but couldn't. She suddenly realized how tired she was. Looking back up at Draco, she sighed. "Well, I'd love to keep up this lovely conversation, but I don't think I can stay awake much longer."
Draco laughed that this, the first real laugh he had had in a long time. Following her down the stairs, he decided that maybe it wasn't that bad to have her there as a friend. She knew the risks now, yet she stayed there. Smiling to himself, he realized that he was falling for Virginia Weasley. He could feel his heart warming as she grabbed his hand, leading him out of the office. They turned to stare at each other just outside his office. She glanced down, then, without thinking, she kissed him on the cheek. Blushing madly, she looked back down at the floor.
Draco put his hand to his cheek where she had kissed him. He reached out and grabbed her chin, lifting up her head so she was looking at him. He saw the tears in her eyes.
"Ginny, don't worry about me. Everything will turn out fine." He leaned down a bit and kissed her. Blushing himself, he pulled her into a hug. "Come on. I'll walk you to your tower." Nodding her head, she headed towards Gryffindor tower, hand in hand with Draco.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore sat in his office. Turning to Fawkes, his Pheonix, he spoke to it. "I think she's the one Fawkes. I could feel the power in her. She may find her true power soon. Let's hope she does. She's the only one who can bring down Voldemort." Leaning back in his chair, he smiled, anticipating the events of Saturday, knowing very well that Voldemort's end was near.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, though I wish I did.
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
Ginny sat there, staring at him. He looked so beautiful, yet was an object she knew she'd never touch. Her Harry. She had been pining over him since she met him at King's Cross Station sending her brother off to Hogwarts for the first year. Now it was her fifth year, his sixth year, and he had finally admitted his feelings for Hermoine. They sat there now, cuddling against one another near the fire. And she, Virginia Weasley, watched as she did her homework. She felt her heart almost rip in two at the sight. Feeling as though she were about to cry, she stood up suddenly, grabbed her cloak and ran out of the room. She just had to get away. Away from everything hurting her. She knew the spot too. The tree on top of a hill that she could see outside her window. It had a beautiful view of the setting sun. She ran through the halls and out of the building, ignoring the people staring at her. She just had to get out.
She started walking once she got outside the building, walking and wishing that she had never felt those feelings for him. She sat down at the tree and watched the sun as is set, the vibrant colors it sent across the sky, the shades of blue, red, and orange it had painted on the clouds. Sighing, she leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes. She listened to the sounds around her. The chirping of the crickets, the soft twittering of birds settling down for the night. She noticed one sound though, one sound that did not belong, the sound of someone crying. Looking around, she saw someone sitting underneath a tree close by, their head in their hands, slumped against a tree, crying. Wondering who it was, she got up and walked over there, sitting down in front of the person. Looking closer, she saw silvery blonde hair. It was Malfoy. Fighting the urge to mock him, she just spoke quietly. "Draco?"
Draco looked up to see coffee brown eyes written with concern staring back at him, fiery hair falling around her face. Virginia Weasley. Suddenly remembering his reputation, he put on a scowl and mumbled "What do you want Weasel?"
Rolling her eyes, Ginny stared back at him. "Don't give me that scowling crap. You don't mean a damn thing by it. I'm not going to say anything to anyone if that's what you're worried about. I just came to ask what's wrong."
Draco just stared. She had seen past the scowl to the pain he felt within. And after all the teasing, the tormenting, the taunting he put her and her family through, she still came to see what was wrong, like so many he knew hadn't. Tearing again, he reached into his robes and pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to her, putting his head back in his hands and crying again. Instinctively, she sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulders, pulling him to her. For a brief moment he resisted before finally collapsing and crying into her shoulder. She rubbed his back as her mom would do when she was upset. She opened the parchment as she was comforting him and read what was there, a look of shock growing as she read on.
Son,
You are to go to the Riddle home this Saturday. There you will be branded with the mark of the Death Eater. You have no choice in this matter. You either serve Lord Voldemort or you will die.
Lucius Malfoy
The look of shock still evident on her face, she put both her arms around him now, hugging him as he cried on. Quietly, she whispered to him "Draco, you don't want to be a Death Eater, do you? Your father is forcing you to do this?"
Draco took a few steadying breaths and calmed himself enough to sit up and look at her. "No, I've never wanted too. My father always expected me to become on. Carry on the supremacy of the Malfoy name son. Serve the Dark Lord son. Any time I'd tell him I didn't want to become a Death Eater he'd beat me, tell me I was a mistake, unwanted. Don't you see Virginia," he pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "I don't have a choice. I serve Voldemort or die. There's no middle ground. And he really will kill me. He doesn't care about me. He just sees me as another minion of Voldemort." Sighing, he leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes, trying to regain his composure.
Ginny just sat there listening to him, hearing his story of what his father was like. How could anyone be so cruel to their own child she thought. How could anyone force them to serve Voldemort? Reaching up with the edge of her robes, she wiped away his tears, then spoke to him.
"Draco, I can't begin to pretend to know what you're going through. But you hold in your hand proof of where Voldemort will be."
Draco looked into her eyes as he realized what she was saying. "Are you saying I should turn this letter over to the Ministry? My father would kill me for sure," he exclaimed, shuddering at the thought.
Sighing, she looked at him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "No. I'm saying tell Dumbledore. He would know what to do. If they can end Lord Voldemort's reign, you would be free of your father's wish for you to become a Death Eater. It might even stop the rest of the Death Eaters." Standing up, she held out her hand to him. "Come on. It's the only way Draco."
He stared up at her, a look of wonderment and respect on his face. This youngest Weasley, she wasn't like everyone else, not bothering to try to get past his ruff exterior, the look and presence his father had worked into him. Yet in the time he had been talking to her and she had been comforting him he had felt more at ease and connected with her than he did with anyone he ever knew. Taking her hand, he got up and stood there. Neither one seemed willing to move. Ginny, glancing down, noticed that she was still holding his hand. Blushing furiously, she quickly let go of his hand and looked down. Looking up, she smiled sheepishly at him. "Come on. We better go tell Dumbledore."
They walked back to the castle, talking about nothing in particular, both purposely avoiding the subject of Voldemort. They walked into the castle, heading for Dumbledore's office. Arriving at the two gargoyles guarding the entrance, she suddenly realized that she didn't know the password. Luckily for them, or rather unluckily, Snape came out of his office.
"Mr. Malfoy, what are you doing wandering the halls?" Glancing at Ginny, he added "What did she do?"
"Nothing sir. We have an urgent message for Professor Dumbledore and need to see him right away."
Glaring, he was about to ask what the message could be when Dumbledore walked out of the office. Noticing the two of them, he politely asked "Ginny, Draco, was there something you needed?" Draco kept glancing nervously at Snape, unwilling to say anything in front of him, knowing he bore the Dark Mark. He may say he was working as a double agent but he still didn't trust him. Dumbledore noticed this and ushered them into his office. Ginny and Draco went up the stairs and into his office, sitting in the two chairs facing his desk.
"So, Ginny, Draco, what is there that I can do for you," Dumbledore asked, noticing their nervousness. Draco was seized up, wondering if what he was about to do was the right thing. He would be defying his father, attempting to bring down Voldemort, going against everything he had ever known. He shifted uneasily in his chair. Ginny glanced over at him, noticing his discomfort and nervousness. She reached over and put a hand on his shoulder and said "Go on Draco. Show him the letter."
Reassured by this, he reached in his robes and handed Dumbledore the letter. Sitting back in the chair, he shuddered, knowing what he had just done could cost him greatly. If there was an attack they would know he had been the one to tell where Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters were.
Dumbledore read the letter over and over again, grasping what was said in the message. Looking up at Draco, he had a grave look on his face, the twinkle in his eyes gone.
"Draco, you realize that I will have to call the Order of the Pheonix together. The Ministry will not know about this. Fudge won't believe us and if he did your father would be arrested. This is the best lead we've had yet as to where he is. If we can surprise them we could get all the Death Eaters and vanquish Voldemort once and for all." Sighing, he glanced at Ginny. "Ginny, you are not to tell anyone of this."
"I know that Professor. Nobody will know I can assure you. If there's anything I can do to help, I would be more than glad to."
Draco looked at her, a look of shock evident on his face. She was willing to help him? Why? He didn't want her to be involved. She might get hurt. Why was he caring for her though? Turning to her, he looked into her eyes. "Virginia, I don't want you to get hurt. Please, don't get involved. Please." She looked into his eyes, seeing concern for her. They just stared at each other, oblivious to Dumbledore's being there.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, watching this exchange, the twinkle in his eyes shining brightly. Chuckling slightly to himself, he thought about the two of them. Draco, he thought, keep a hold on her. She might be your saving grace. Something about Ginny struck him, like she possessed some untapped sort of power. Shrugging this off, he turned back to Draco. "Draco, this is going to be very hard on you. You must write your father back. Make sure he thinks you're coming alone, that you seem enthusiastic about this. He must not get a clue about what we must plan. If you'll both excuse me, I need to recall the Order of the Pheonix. We must begin planning at once. We've only a few days."
Draco paled at this realization. Only a few days. In a few days his fate would be known, whether he lived or died. Whether Voldemort would be brought down or empowered. Ginny noticed this and looked back at Dumbledore. "Professor, may we go to the kitchen and get some food now? I don't believe that either of us feels much like sleeping right now." Nodding, Dumbledore sent them on their way. Halfway down the steps of his office, Draco turned to Ginny. "How did I ever get you involved? Now they're going to come after you too just because I know you. My father hates your father anyway. He'd want to kill you just because you're you. Why? Why did you have to get involved?" His tears started anew. His heart ached at the thought she might not be safe. Here was this girl, practically risking her life just by talking to him. Why? Why was she doing this?
Ginny reached up and touched his cheek. "Draco, just because everyone else sees you as an ass doesn't mean I do. I got involved because I wanted to. There's nothing more we can do about it until tomorrow." She sighed, glancing down the stairs. She tried to stifle a yawn, but couldn't. She suddenly realized how tired she was. Looking back up at Draco, she sighed. "Well, I'd love to keep up this lovely conversation, but I don't think I can stay awake much longer."
Draco laughed that this, the first real laugh he had had in a long time. Following her down the stairs, he decided that maybe it wasn't that bad to have her there as a friend. She knew the risks now, yet she stayed there. Smiling to himself, he realized that he was falling for Virginia Weasley. He could feel his heart warming as she grabbed his hand, leading him out of the office. They turned to stare at each other just outside his office. She glanced down, then, without thinking, she kissed him on the cheek. Blushing madly, she looked back down at the floor.
Draco put his hand to his cheek where she had kissed him. He reached out and grabbed her chin, lifting up her head so she was looking at him. He saw the tears in her eyes.
"Ginny, don't worry about me. Everything will turn out fine." He leaned down a bit and kissed her. Blushing himself, he pulled her into a hug. "Come on. I'll walk you to your tower." Nodding her head, she headed towards Gryffindor tower, hand in hand with Draco.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore sat in his office. Turning to Fawkes, his Pheonix, he spoke to it. "I think she's the one Fawkes. I could feel the power in her. She may find her true power soon. Let's hope she does. She's the only one who can bring down Voldemort." Leaning back in his chair, he smiled, anticipating the events of Saturday, knowing very well that Voldemort's end was near.