Chapter Seven: She Looked into You

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She looked deep into you as you lay together

Quiet in the grasp of Dusk and Summer

"Alright, don't be scared, darling," Draco whispered, sweeping strands of hair off of her face.

"I'm not," she breathed, surprising herself with just how comfortable she had become in their presence.

The two men smiled at her then looked at each other.

"Remember, these are not images that we are planting in your head, we are merely allowing the memories to be uncovered," Blaise explained to her for the fourth time that night.

Ginny grinned. "Just do it already!"

X

Rome, 50 AD

Although there were many trying their damndest to get close to the barbarian redhead, the duty fell upon Draco Malfoy to show her the bustling city of Rome. He had opted for showing the girl around the temples and various stalls around the monuments today, which was why he could be found without a litter in front of the villa where she was staying, with his servant, Blaise.

He still was not very sure why he, of all people, was chosen to be her escort. He assumed it had something to do with his father, of course, but he had no idea what move his father was trying to make with this. All of his thoughts stopped abruptly when the woman walked outside of the villa, a barbarian man close behind her. She was radiant in a Roman robe and her hair had been braided and curled to adorn her lovely face.

"I am Ginevra," she stated regally, without a curtsy or even a bow of her head.

Draco was astonished that she spoke their language and voiced as much. "How do you know Latin?" he asked, completely blown away.

The woman, Ginevra, smiled a small smile. "I know many things that would surprise you," she said, implying mischief. Many men would have been rendered paralyzed; Draco, however, smiled largely and offered the lady an arm.

"Well, m'lady, allow me to show you Rome," he said with a grand sweep of his arm towards his beloved city. As they walked, he introduced Blaise and they found themselves telling her of their relationship and how it had flourished, all the while Ginevra listened intently.

"But listen to us, speaking of nothing but what pertains to us. What about you? What is Britain like?" Draco said after many hours of walking and talking. He had taken her to several temples and vendors and had even bought her several little trinkets that had delighted her.

"Britain is . . . more cold," Ginevra answered slowly.

Blaise and Draco laughed. "Is that all?" Blaise asked sarcastically in good humor.

Ginevra smiled sheepishly. "It is more cold. But it is more quiet. Peaceful."

Draco reflected before answering. "Well, you are in the city. The country side is much more beautiful and quiet, as you say."

Ginny nodded. "Yes, I believe that it probably is. I would like to see this country side of yours," she said, stopping and looking them both in the eye in turn. Her look sent shivers down their back and they couldn't help but feel that she knew something they did not.

"Then we will take you."

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England, present

Ginny's eyes blinked open and her vision blurred before focusing. "You two were beautiful," she sighed dreamily, looking at both of them in turn.

They smiled at each other over her head.

"What happened next?" she asked eagerly.

"Where did your memories end?" Blaise asked.

"It was the very first time I ever talked to you guys and Draco promised that you would both take me to see Italian country side."

Draco thought for a moment before answering. "For the next few weeks, we took you somewhere new everyday. I must say, the senators were right furious with jealousy that I had captured all of your attentions, more than one assassin was sent my way for it. At any rate, we talked and shared many things that were not usually topics of conversation back then. And, well, we fell in love with you. I would say you fell in love with us but you didn't need those few weeks for that," Draco said, grinning knowingly at Blaise. Blaise returned his smile and they kissed over Ginny's head.

"What does that mean?" she asked, irritated that she sounded like some love sick puppy.

"We'll let you explain it yourself," Blaise told her. "We're going to start up your memories again with the day that we took you to the countryside, where you explained everything to us."

Ginny nodded and closed her eyes again.

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Rome, 50 AD

"So does our country side compare with your Britain?" Blaise asked grandly, surveying the rolling hills in front of them.

Ginevra smiled. "It is beautiful in its own way," she allowed, leaning back against the trunk of the tree they had sat under. The sun was just barely setting on the horizon and a cool breeze ran across them, creating a perfect opposite to the slight heat the summer day had left behind.

"You know, I've still yet to figure out why father has placed me in the position to be your escort. I was almost certain he had great plans for me to join the senate, not marry me off and send me to Britain," Draco said absently, plucking a strand of grass and weaving it with another.

Ginevra shifted positions. "There is some truth I have not told you yet."

Draco loved the odd way she put sentences together when she spoke his language, much like Blaise had done in their early years together.

"Well, go on," Blaise prompted.

"Draco, your father did not put you in this position. I specifically asked that you be my escort."

Blaise and Draco blinked. Blaise furrowed his brows. "How did you know him?" he asked, slightly jealous that the woman wanted Draco.

"Not just him, the both of you," she explained quickly. Blaise's face took on a look of surprise.

"So . . . how did you know either of us?" Draco asked, confused.

"Draco, Blaise . . . I am not just a Princess in my country," she explained slowly. "I am also a seer."

Neither man responded for several moments. "So you saw us in a . . . prophecy?" Draco asked, trying to piece it together, not quite sure what to think.

The woman in front of them closed her eyes as if to put together her thoughts. "Prophecy is not the right word. I do, sometimes, see things that you might call "prophecy" but you two were not the same. I have dreamt of you since my coming of age near seven years ago when I was in my eleventh year. You see, my mother was a seer before me and powers usually pass on when the child comes of age. I have known your names and faces and lives since before you knew each other," she said quietly. "I saw you meet each other and I felt your happiness when you realized you loved each other," her face became lighter, reflecting the joy she felt just remembering it. "I felt sad when you were sad and angry when you were angry, I cried when you cried and laughed when you laughed. And when the two of you made love, it was ecstasy in itself," she breathed, seeming as if she were caught in a trance.

Draco and Blaise's mouths could not close, they both stared unbelievably at the girl in front of them. Although they both knew she probably sounded crazy, they couldn't help but believe her. She spoke with such conviction that it could not possibly be a lie.

"I have loved you both for years," she told them, looking both of them in the eyes. "And though your politicians think that this is some victory for them, they will gain nothing from our visit here," she said, her tone becoming harsh. "We are well aware of their plan to placate us into intermarraige to instate their rule in our kingdom; but we have powers that they know not and we will not be vanquished so easily," she said fiercely, her hair seeming to come alive to match her violent tone. Her voice and face alike softened with her next statement. "That being said, we are only here for you two."

Draco shook his head. "Your father and his council agreed to travel a very perilous journey just so you could see if these two dream men in your head were real?" he asked incredulously.

Ginevra's face flared up again. "It was not a question of whether you were real or not! It was only a matter of meeting you!" she said passionately.

"Okay okay, calm down!" Draco said in alarm.

"So if what you are saying is true, what did you hope to accomplish with this trip?" Blaise asked.

Ginevra smiled. "In my land, there are powers that would drive a man crazy. There are rituals that you will probably find unnerving but, I must try a certain ritual with you."

Draco rose an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Ginevra grinned mischievously. "Oh, yes."

"And where exactly does this ritual take place?" Blaise asked.

"I'll need a chamber with a bed," she replied. And before they could inquire for any more details, she stood and began to walk to the chariot.

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England, present

"Damn, I was a bad ass!" Ginny said happily when she came to after the last memory.

"We think so, too," Draco answered softly.

"But if you don't mind, thats quite enough memories for the time being. I'm ready to partake in other activities," Blaise said cheerily.

Ginny blinked up at him innocently. "Like what?" she asked, giving her best confused look.

The two men grinned and then they were a knot that no one could have figured out.

Meanwhile . . .

"I haven't seen Gin around lately, have you?" Seamus asked Dean in their dorms after supper.

"No. But I mean, she's a NEWT student when she should only be in sixth year, I'd be a bit busy as well," Dean replied considerately.

Seamus paused. "But we always study together. I mean, not really just the two of us but, all of us, you know? Me, you, Neville, Parvati, even Lavender. And she's been falling behind in her classes, she's missed three classes in just three days, you know," Seamus rambled.

"Look, Seamus, I'm sure nothing's wrong. But if you're seriously worried, why don't you have a chat with Parvati, eh?"

"Yes, I suppose your right."

That night, as Seamus lay in bed, his mind wandered back to his sort of girlfriend. Parvati had been no more help than Dean had been and he still had no idea where Ginny had been since their last class of the day. Was she avoiding him? No . . . she was much to sexual of a person to ignore her – and then it hit him. She had to have found someone else . . . why else would she be gone all the time, her grades slipping and their infrequent conversations kept distant and somewhat forced.

Seamus mentally hit himself on the head. Of course that was why she was gone all the time! Why hadn't he seen it before? He sighed to himself. Maybe there was another reason . . . He would talk to Dean about it in the morning.