LbN: I've had a burst of inspiration! Here are the fruits of my labors :)

It had been too long. She ached to open the book, even though she knew she wasn't up to it yet. Ginny ran a hand down the front cover of the leather bound book. It warmed under her touch. Automatically, she said the names of the runes in front of her. She shivered as they glowed and danced briefly before fading. "No." She put the book back onto the shelf. "Not yet."


"Ginny?" Tonks said, knocking.

"Hey Tonks."

"We're going to take Olivier to the train station. He wants to say goodbye."

Ginny walked to the doorway.

Olivier was standing just beyond it, looking bashful and a little pale.

"You're going to do fine," Ginny said. She hugged him. "Be good. Look at me." She couldn't tell him what she wanted to, but she knew he'd understand. "Be good. Not what they say is proper. Be good."

"I will," Olivier said, nodding.

Ginny smiled again. "You'll love it. Even though it's changed, it's still Hogwarts underneath." She looked at the stairs, where Draco was coming up. "Almost ready?"

"We are," Draco told her, nodding. "Ready Olivier?"

"Oui, Draco."

"Wait," Ginny said. "I have a present for you." She went back into her room and pulled a folder out of her drawer. "Here, have a good term," she said, handing it to him. She smiled as Draco quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Olivier," he said. "Go hop in the coach."

Olivier and Tonks left.

"Why do I have a feeling I wouldn't like what you just gave him?" Draco asked her.

"You wouldn't, but it's harmless. I wouldn't give him anything that would get him in trouble, Draco," she added, seeing his skeptical look. "Really. I know what danger he's in if he seems to be…rebelling."

Draco nodded. "I'll see you when I get home."


"She gave me parchment?" Olivier asked, looking at the sheets. True, they were folded oddly, but other than that it wasn't an extraordinary gift.

"I'm sure you'll need it," Tonks said, as the servants dispersed from around the carriage. She made sure they were a ways off before she said, softly, "Tap it with your wand." She wasn't looking at Olivier, and he wasn't looking at her, but she knew he was listening. "I solemnly swear that I am up to only good."

He whispered her words. "What--?"

"Shhhh!" Tonks said, seeing Draco walking toward the carriage. "Omnis absconditus."

He repeated her again and put the papers into his bag just as Draco approached the carriage. His foster father spoke with the driver momentarily before climbing in. "We'll be there shortly. The driver's going to take us halfway, then we'll be Apparating."

They made the journey quickly and quietly. As Olivier stepped onto the train, Draco caught him by the arm. "No one knows who you really are," he began, and paused. Truthfully, the boy didn't even know who he really was… "You are a Malfoy," he continued. He tapped Olivier's robes, and a silver design embroidered its way around the collar and down the sleeves. "Have a good term."

Olivier beamed at his as he made his way onto the train.

Draco stepped back onto the platform, smiling at the boy's happy expression. "Ginny gave him the map, didn't she?" he asked Tonks.

"How do you do that?"

"Does he know how to use it?"

"Yes," Tonks said.

"Good."

"What?"

"I'm glad he has it. Whenever the Dark Lord inspects the school, he favors the Junior Death Eaters who have a thorough knowledge of the school, not just its history. As a matter of curiosity," he said as the train rolled away. "How did Ginny get it? Did Charlie have it?"

"Yes. He thought it would be safer with her."

"Let's get back to the house."


"Why are you pacing, Draco?" Ginny asked as she rocked Celeste.

"I want to know where Olivier's been placed?"

"Placed? Do they still do the Sorting?"

"Yes. At first the Dark Lord was tempted to have the whole school bear the crest of Slytherin, but Blaise talked him out of it."

"How come?"

"Those of us who went there wanted it to stay the same. The official reason Blaise gave, however, was that it would be better to leave it as is, the better to identify the true Slytherins. Those worthy to wear the crest versus the rest of the rabble. He's come to admire Gryffindors as well, because they usually make up the muscle of our ranks."

"Wow."

Draco chuckled. "It's not so bad. The teachers are true Hogwarts teachers, not Death Eaters."

A knock sounded at the nursery door and Aaron peeked in. "Master Malfoy? Your parents are here."

"Very well, Aaron," Draco said cheerfully. "Send them in."

"I can't believe you're making me do this," Ginny grumbled.

Draco kissed her forehead. "It'll be quick. Besides, once I told Mother the baby's name, she insisted on meeting her granddaughter formally."

Narcissa swept into the room just then, followed by Lucius.

Ginny smiled at the older woman. "Narcissa, this is Celeste," she said, handing the baby to the woman. Ginny knew that the woman was a mommy at heart, deeply devoted to her child, but seeing her cooing over a baby was a little discomfiting anyway. Seeing Draco kneel beside her and discuss ways to keep the baby calm was seriously odd.

"Don't think for a moment that you're fooling me," Lucius said under his breath. They were far enough away, still standing by the crib, that the other two couldn't hear.

"I just had your grandchild. I think it would be safe to say that this isn't an act," Ginny retorted.

"You may have Draco fooled, but I know where your allegiance lies. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

"You, Nott, Blaise, Bellatrix, and fifty other Death Eaters that I couldn't name if I tried. Get a life. Narcissa," she said, clearly. "What do you think? Does she look more like me or Draco?"

"You," Narcissa said. "Draco's eyes, but that's it."

Ginny chuckled, but she could still feel Lucius's eyes on her.


The last shape solidified and joined its fellows in the air. As they danced, Ginny was surprised that she didn't feel much different. A little more…exhilarated, but not tired, not sick. She waited until the shapes had almost completely disappeared, before finishing the spell. The shapes glowed again and began to outline the shape of a person. She chanted more fervently, wanting this more than ever. Through a haze it seemed, Fred's Shadow became clearer. "Fred?"

"Ginny." The Shadow's voice echoed, but it was quiet.

"I miss you," she said. Tears were falling, and she was getting tired. She knew she'd lose the Shadow soon.

"I know. But we're at peace."

"How did you come to me? I wasn't calling anyone specifically."

"You were calling for me subconsciously. Be careful, Ginny." The Shadow dimmed and faded.

Ginny passed out.


Draco rubbed his eyes and looked at his hourglass. Shoving the papers away from him and putting his quill back in the box, he stood and stretched. He made his way out of the office and down the hall to his and Ginny's room. When he entered, he stopped. It was eleven o'clock and she wasn't in bed. He kept walking, to the nursery and quietly peeked in. Celeste was sleeping (for once) in her crib, but Ginny wasn't there. He knew for a fact that Tonks was already asleep, so Ginny wouldn't be chatting the night away. He walked down the half-staircase in the back hallway to the library. "Oh for…" he sighed. He walked over to Ginny, picked her up gently, and carried her up to their room.

"Draco?"

"I'd lecture you, but I have a feeling it's unnecessary at this point." He set her in bed and pulled the covers around her. "Good night."

"Night."

LbN: Yes, it's THAT map. Yes, Draco has ulterior motives for the little burst of fashion he gave Oli. Yes, you will find out where Oli was sorted. Yes, Ginny will get better with Necromancy. Send reviews, por favor!