Authors Notes: Hmm…I really hope you guys like this…this
is going to be a huge… I mean… HUGE series. I'm kind of hoping to have an
effect on ff.net similar to the one Someone the First did. I mean, who hasn't
read "Digging the
Hole, and Climbing back out"? That girl made history, and if you haven't read
that incredible fic, oh…you poor sad sheltered little reader, YOU SHOULD. It's
incredible. Anyway, now that I've gone on that little tangent "Oh hell, blame
the attention deficit disorder." (Robyn – heh.)
Regardless, if you read this chapter, and then come back for more, please tell your friends and followers… I want this to be huge…because, quite honestly, this is going to be a hundred times better than my other stuff. This story is going to become me entire and only purpose for writing on ff.net, so … as you can tell, I'm putting my heart on the line here. I really really hope you enjoy this. Please, email me at Little_Aly@juno.com with questions, comments or any encouragement. And SPREAD THE NEWS!
Disclaimer: Draco and Ginny and any other Harry Potter characters do not belong to me, and are all delicate, glorious creations of JKR.
Dedication: This is to whoever reads this story and feels something in their heart twinge. I write for you. I write so you are not a reader, but a character, and your very heart flutters with each chapter. If you feel the writing, this is for you. Thank you for helping me along…all of you. Always, Aly.
Chapter One
Draco Malfoy had lived through too many dangers as it was. After graduating from Hogwarts, and getting lost in a world that still haunted him at late hours of the night he had become a Death Eater. It was beyond his comprehension the type of pain he'd come to accept those four long, painful, years he'd left behind him.
He supposed that it was the power that had captured his soul….but no…it was his own naïve desire to finally be on top that destroyed him. Those long nights he spent at Voldemorts feet, bleeding, suffering, begging for mercy through clenched teeth, feeling the blood trickle from his mouth. Those days when all he did was kill. When he'd arrive at desolate gray homes, on freezing gray rainy days, only to twist his nimble fingers around the sturdy wand and listen to people beg and plead for mercy at his feet. The very same way he had to Voldemort, yet…there was nothing. He held the wand directly in their face and destroyed them. He'd wreck the home, and then stab them a few times. Part of him thought that maybe it was because he wanted it to look like a crime scene to the Muggle world, but the other, smarter half knew that it was because the feeling of a knife sinking into soft flesh gave him power, and the blood that rose from the deep wound fed him. He was on top, or so he thought, until he was with Voldemort.
His once dazzling white blond hair and piercing blue eyes had become vacant and gray, his hair dirty and askew. Night after night it was the same thing…he would fall to his knees, only to suffer at the hands of his "Master" This was no life. This was hell on earth. He figured that this is what Muggles who worshipped the Devil must feel like….like Satan would give them power, and then only to discover that Satan did not love them, and he only wished to see the m fall in agony. Draco realized this one night, sleeping on the cold concrete floor of his room in the Riddle house. He longed to escape to flee to become the person he so longed, and wished to be. He knew it was too late, too late to escape, too late to try to start over. Someone, someone had to hear him! Someone had to miss him, someone had to love him….someone! Could he really be all alone in this desolate hell? "Oh God," he prayed, a naïve act of an unbeliever, "help me…Lord, oh…this is too much." Draco had never believed in God, and for that very reason, he did not believe in second chances, life was not like that…not simple.
Just as his thoughts began to rush through his throbbing head he heard the door above him open, and the thud of Voldemorts black boots descending the stairs pained him. Not again…
"Draco, you sad, sad little maggot. Get up! Dry those pathetic weak tears! Have you no dignity?! No backbone!? GET UP IMMEDIATELY!" Voldemort hissed.
Draco fought his body to stand. His fragile, legs, stiff with dry blood could barely hold his weight. His muscles screamed out in pain, yet through clenched teeth he stared at him. Limping slightly on his left leg, he readjusted his weight and tried to stand straight.
"I have a mission for you." he scowled, "I'm sure you'll just love it."
Draco made no response, just stared.
"Ah.. a little journey to the past…. I'm sure you'll just adore it. Here." He handed him a piece of paper, with an address written in deep scarlet ink.
"Go there, and get me the girl."
"Why?" Draco breathed.
"Don't ask questions fool!" Voldemort screamed, taking out his wand and whispering a curse so low that Draco could not hear it, but when the flaming pain hit him he knew it was an unforgivable one.
Draco screamed on the floor, desperately clutching his temples. Finally, Voldemort ended it, and he weakly stood up.
"Now…I will tell you." he said. "This girl is a key item in my rise to power, and Potters end. That stupid prophecy can be broken…and I think this girls blood with taint it all."
"She will die?"
"Don't be an idiot Draco, you're starting to remind me of that rat Pettigrew." Voldemort hissed. "Now go."
~~~~~~
The Weasley home was alive with people and Ginny Weasley stood admist it all. Her long, fiery, brilliant, red hair floated down to her lower back in a halo of waves. She wore a sleeveless v-necked white tank top, and a knee high black skirt. Today was Ron's birthday and she had never been so thrilled. She had been away at college, studying, learning, and experiencing so much that she had been naïve to at Hogwarts and home. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and carried out the large chocolate cake bewitched with colorchanging icing. She grinned and sat it before her brother as the room began singing 'Happy Birthday.' Fred and George creating inappropriate verses until receiving a glare from a very not amused Mrs. Weasley. Harry, Hermione, and Robyn had joined to help Ron celebrate. Robyn and Ron had been engaged for just three months, and Robyn was already a very large part of the family. She had warm chocolate eyes, and short brown hair that curled under at her chin, she was gorgeous, and it was very apparent that no one had ever loved Ron so dearly. Harry and Hermione had been married for just under a year, and Ginny couldn't help but smile as she looked at Fred's wife, Angelina, her tummy just barely swelling with the promise of a new baby to the family. Life was coming together for everyone, she could just feel it.
After the dishes were done, the guests had retreated to their bedrooms, and Ron and Robyn had left on a little walk, Ginny lay resolutely on her bed, still in her party outfit, but feeling lonely. Everyone had a match in her family, but her. However, she had been studying in Spain and Italy, and she loved sitting in the small village cafes with the warm sun shining down on her table, as she did her studies. Life was well for her too, but just…something was missing.
~~~
Draco slid up the stairs, under the cover of an invisibility cloak, and stealthily found his way to Ginny's room. Inching his way in through the slightly opened door he saw her, laying there in the dark, the moonlight illuminating her face. Her green eyes glittering, her long wavy red hair laying around her frame, and one corner of her skirt was twisted up, revealing her upper leg. She looked gorgeous. Not the skinny little Weasley he had hated so many years ago.
He slid in inch by inch until he was finally in the room, and he removed his cloak. Ginny jolted up and opened her mouth, about to scream. He rushed over, covered her mouth and stared into her eyes.
"Don't scream." He whispered. He took out his wand and tapped her forehead lightly. In an instant, she was out like a light. He picked up her motionless body and covered the two of them with his invisibility cloak. He returned downstairs, and out the door onto his broom. He cradled her in his arms the entire journey home. Her eyelids seemed peacefully sleeping, her long black lashes sleepily resting on her cheeks. The wind was biting cold, and he pulled her closer to him as they approached the Riddle house. He entered through the front door, still in the cloak. It was one a.m. He reluctantly carried her to Voldemort. Silently praying she would not be killed.
"Ah, my son…you have done well. Bring me the girl." He said.
Draco silently brought her to him, and lay her on the sacrificing table. Her long red hair hanging off the edges, beautifully. Voldemort leaned close to her soft pink lips and blew a cold breath on her. Her eyes opened, and she screamed…the loudest, most piercing, most devastating scream Draco had ever heard. Voldemort silenced her immediately, and with a switch of the wand he had her hands and legs pinned to the table.
"Now..Ms. Weasley. I have questions that need answers, if you fail to supply me with an answer, I torture you. Its just that simple. Do we understand?" he hissed, touching her face.
She pulled her face from him. He took her delicate face in his cold, rough grasp and said it again. "Do we understand!" he yelled.
She weakly shook her head.
"Leave Draco." He hissed.
Draco did not move. "You are not going to kill her?"
"Not yet, not that it should matter to you regardless." Voldemort laughed.
"Do not harm her, please." Draco said, ashamed.
"Leave Fool. If you dare leave your cell in the basement tonight, she will die slowly and painfully. Understood?"
"Must you harm her?"
"Now Draco!"
Draco turned and left to the basement. If only Voldemort did not have so many followers. They would surely report directly to him if he left. He trudged down the old, worn out wooden steps and sank onto his mattress. He closed his eyes tightly. Suddenly, Ginny's piercing screams rang throughout the house…he wished for them to end, but they continued that way for hours. Draco clenched his eyes shut and prayed…but her screams were endless, until her voice grew weak and hoarse. Draco's eyes grew maliciously heavy as he fought himself to stay awake. What was wrong with him? Did he have feelings for Ginny? Had he gone soft….oh his nightmare was going to get much worse. How did he escape?
When Draco arose, the pink of the early sunrise shone through his one thin window towards the very ceiling of the basement, the glass was frosted, and he wondered how Ginny was, and he rubbed his arms together for warmth.
He did not see her for days, but he heard her upstairs, meddling around the kitchen, and then screaming during the nights. On the third day, he continued to hear her light footsteps throughout the home, but she stopped screaming during the night. He prayed constantly, he wished nothing more than to be with her, to be holding her, comforting her throughout the pain, but he could not, he was trapped in his dark, damp cell until Voldemort needed him again.
The door swung open and Voldemort came down the wooden steps heavily. He smirked as he approached Draco's cell.
"Your Ginny is just fine, fool , you do not have to pretend to be so nonchalant, don't you remember that I know your thoughts?" He laughed.
"However, I am growing weaker by the day, I need fresh blood….so…I have a mission for you. I need Unicorn blood, and a body to kill myself, if you are feeling generous you will bring me someone scrawny…after all, the thin ones are so much easier to kill." He smiled, an unsettling grin.
"Now, heres the address, I want the child this time. The very young babe."
"A baby?" Draco whispered fearfully.
"HAVE YOU GONE SOFT?!" Voldemort shrilled. "If this Weasley is causing you to fail at your tasks than I will exterminate her at my leisure before your very eyes. Now, BRING ME THE BABE!"
"I'm sorry." he said looking down.
"If only your father was aware of this…..weakness…the human heart is such a foolish thing. Oh Draco, do not let it get you…remember…power, strength…" Voldemort said retreating up the stairs in a slow determined pace.
Draco resolutely turned to the door, and clenched the address in his hand…this was beyond evil. It was either Ginny's life, or the childs.
~~~~~
