Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to HP. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved.

Draco said, "You have not told me how you were captured."

Ginny replied, "We had just gone to Diagon Alley to get some school supplies, Fred, George, Ron, Harry and me. First we went to Flourish and Bott's, and Harry suddenly insisted that he wanted to see the new brooms; I wanted to see the Firebolt, so I left with him. Just as we were halfway, Harry started to go back; I heard a pop, turned and saw your father. He wasn't wearing Death Eater garb, Draco. It was easy to recognize him. He stunned me and took me away. You know the rest."

"What I would like to know is why no one rescued me. After all, Lucius Malfoy kidnapped me in broad daylight, and Harry has your permission to enter Malfoy Manor."

Draco replied, "There could be several reasons. The most probable one is that Confundus charms were used on the bystanders."

Ginny gasped, "Since when do Death Eaters use Confundus?"

Draco answered, "It might not have been them, and it could easily have been your side. Someone who doesn't like you, or to lure Harry to the Manor. You have to look at the situation with as little prejudice as you can, and try to imagine that anything's possible."

"Never enter a place without looking for an exit. Most of all, never assume that the exits are left unguarded, and plan accordingly."

Ginny countered, "So you're telling me that you have contingency plans for everything?"

Draco drawled, "Not everything, not even 10 percent of everything. Just the most salient situations. And of course, there are many defeats. However, for a true Slytherin, a rout can lead to a conquest, if properly exploited."

Ginny asked, puzzled, "What had your father so enraged? After he read that parchment, it looked like he blew a fuse."

Draco responded, "He received a communication which told him that I'm gay, or rather, bisexual. I haven't read it."

Draco waved his wand and a letter appeared on his hand. Ginny, startled, asked, "How did you get it?"

Draco answered, "Since the wards are attuned to me, I can summon small objects, such as letters and vials from the Manor if I know what they are." He unrolled the parchment, read it and passed it to Ginny for her perusal:

My Lord,

Recently one of my spies in Gryffindor told me of a recent conversation between your Heir and Harry Potter. It would seem their friendship is no ruse, as the young Malfoy claims. He even told Potter he was gay, to which Potter offered support. A truly sickening Gryffindorish scene not worthy of your name, my liege.

Theophilus Nott

Draco snorted,"Just what we need, a spy in Gryffindor. When I told Harry I thought I was gay, I used an Imperturbable charm on the common room. No one should have heard!"

Ginny asked, "What's this about your friendship to Harry being a ruse, Draco?"

Draco retorted, "With my father being so rabidly pro-Voldemort, I would not have survived the first report of my being friends with the Trio. However, as befits a Malfoy, I found an interesting potion, called Suggestion. After I dosed his firewhisky with it, I had a chat with him in which I 'persuaded' him that my friendship with the Gryffindors came about as his direct command, just so I could capture Potter."

Ginny stated, "But didn't he suspect something?"

Draco answered, "He always saw me as just a boy, a servant, weak and willing. Just as long as he was blinded by his own prejudice, I was safe."

"You see, while my charade endured, I was free."

Ginny said, "And you're in love with Harry."

Draco inquired, "Why do you say that?"

Ginny argued, "Come on Draco, I have seen the way you look at him when no one's looking, the way you try to protect him. I also see the way he blushes when he's with you, the way he acts coy sometimes. There's real attraction between you two, and I can only hope that someday Harry decides to act on this and stops being oblivious."

Draco inquired, "But Ginevra, how can you say that? Don't you love him and want to stay with him?"

Ginny replied, "You have told me stories about being a Slytherin, Draco; well then, let me tell you stories about being a Weasley."

"All your life you have heard tales about the Boy-who-lived, his innate goodness. When you start going to Hogwarts you see him, and you find that the stories are all true, he is that good, noble, and kind, the epitome of a hero."

"During your first year at Hogwarts, though, you are possessed by the Dark, and while it repulses you, some part of you, which you never knew existed, likes it. Likes it even to the point of being irritated with the Hero who rescues you from the Dark."

"From this moment on, you sometimes feel as if you are walking on razors, on the one hand, the Light and its hero, who promise a life full of comfort, happiness and security; and on the other side the Dark, with passion unchecked, vivid hate, and love."

"Being wrapped up in Harry sometimes felt like being wrapped up in a blanket of love, it kept me safe from the Dark."

"But recently, I've stopped considering it entirely evil, and I find I may not need that blanket as much as I thought."

Draco looked intently at Ginny, and saw her in an entirely new light. She had witnessed his bloody revenge on his father, and she had not cringed. Harry would have cried bloody murder and refused to speak to him at all, and probably cursed him into next year, solely based on the Cruciatus, not to mention the Imperio.

Ginny had been understanding and supportive, and Draco realized with a shiver, not only in the last few hours, but in the last term as well. There were times when his patience was very strained with some stupid Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, and he'd look at Ginny, and he'd see sympathy and forbearance on her gaze. He had grown to enjoy and treasure her company.

Ginny, with her fiery red hair, her willowy figure, her alabaster skin, her pert features, was a striking young woman, seeing her with Harry, who was raven-haired, had vivid green eyes and Quidditch-toned body, was breathtaking.

And if you add to the mixture a six-foot tall platinum blond wizard, with stormy grey eyes, milky skin, aristocratic features and toned body, the result was irresistible. They were already calling them the New Golden Trio.

Draco broke from his reverie and said, "I will Apparate with you to the Burrow and then retire to the Manor, Ginevra; but what will we tell them?"

Ginny looked up to Draco full of mischief and said, "Whatever will we tell them, my Prince? Just the naked truth or our version of it. How about if we mess up their philistine minds a little?" A corner of her mouth twitched. Draco knew that look, it always made him uncomfortable when it was directed at him, but now, it just filled him with glee.

Ginny continued, "It's a pity that a dozen Muggles would try to kidnap me and rape me, and only you, my Dragon Prince, came to my rescue and took me away. The Dragon saved the Maiden's virtue!" Ginny chortled.

Draco looked startled for a moment, and quickly looked away, before Ginny noticed.

BBBBBBBBBBB

Ginny entered the Burrow and found the other Weasleys having dinner. She grew angry that life at home apparently went undisturbed, even when she was missing.

Molly saw her and shrieked, "Ginny, where have you been? You had us so worried!"

Ginny replied, "Yes, I can see mum, so worried that you didn't do anything to help me."

Harry came up to her and hugged her, telling her, "I was so concerned when you disappeared, Ginny, I went to Dumbledore, but he persuaded me to wait for you until tonight. Besides, the clock didn't show you in danger anyway."

Ginny thought, 'You are not the hero you used to be Harry. You didn't hesitate to face the Basilisk for me, but now you obey Dumbledore, even with the Order at your beck and call you did nothing. It was lucky for me that Draco allowed himself to be endlessly beaten to trick his father, it's lucky that he's such a good Slytherin.'

Ginny allowed her snarky self to surface, and said, "Then it was very lucky that Draco did not consult Dumbledore, isn't it, when he saved me from being gang-raped by a dozen Muggles."

Everyone gasped, "Malfoy," "The Ferret," could be heard throughout the room.

Ginny continued, "I was kidnapped and they were taking me to a dark road to rape me, when Draco came out of the blue and dispatched them all. You should have seen him! He was magnificent, like an avenging angel! And afterwards we went to Fortescue's for ice cream, the perfect outing!"

Harry looked taken aback at hearing Ginny's impassioned speech. Truth to tell, it made him a little, or a lot, jealous. The confusing point was that he didn't know if he was jealous of Ginny or Draco. He loved Ginny, but he was also strongly attracted to Draco.

At first, it was easy to deny the attraction when he hated his guts, but after Draco changed sides and became his friend, it was increasingly difficult to pretend there was not a spark between them. He was dimly aware of the scorching looks Draco sent his way, and they made him feel wanted and cherished, but he wasn't sure he wanted to commit himself to a homosexual relationship.

Though they were accepted in the Wizarding World, he had been Muggle-raised, and the Dursleys' prejudices still resonated strongly within him.

It wasn't that he was stringing Draco along; it was more that he wanted all his bases covered, preferably for a long time to come.

After Ginny enjoyed herself immensely telling the concocted story, she went to her room to sleep, maybe of her hero, maybe of her prince.

BBBBBBBBBB

The next morning, Ginny groggily woke up, remembered the events of yesterday, and sighed, thinking of Draco alone at the Manor. He'd probably spend the night being interrogated by the Aurors.

She took a shower and went down to eat breakfast. The table was full, and the Weasleys present looked astonished, reading from four newspapers. She scooted her chair closer to Ron and read over his shoulder:

DAILY PROPHET

LUCIUS MALFOY KISSED!!

Yesterday an anti-Dementor ward at the Ministry of Magic was triggered. Upon closer examination, it was shown that Dementor activity occurred in Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. A team of Aurors was promptly dispatched. When they arrived and searched the Manor, they found in the dungeons a scene of unparalleled brutality. Lucius Malfoy had been Kissed by a Dementor. Apparently he used Unforgivables before this happened, and his tongue had been cut off, the typical punishment of traitors.

This modus operandi led the Aurors to the conclusion that You-know-who disposed of his supporter in a vendetta.

Narcissa Malfoy is currently in Wiesbaden, visiting relatives.

Draco Malfoy, according to the wishes of his father, is now Lord Malfoy and Heir of the Malfoy fortune. He was seen in Diagon Alley in the unlikely company of young Miss Weasley, shortly before Lucius suffered his untimely demise.

Following the expressed wishes of Lord Malfoy, his father's body was taken to St. Mungo's.

There was a picture of Lucius in his prime, looking malevolently at the assembled Weasleys, but what took Ginny's breath away was watching Lucius smirk knowingly at her, as if he knew something vital, something she didn't.

Tbc