Chapter Ten

A Bed of Roses

Pansy knelt, motioning Blaise down as well. He followed her suit, looking at the sparkles on the ground.

"Ginny left these." She said.

Blaise nodded. "Hanzel and Gretal. Somehow I'm not surprised she would know it. Her parents probably taught her."

"So all we have to do is follow them"

"We'd better be fast though."

"Why's that?" Pansy asked as he helped her to her feet.

"Because these only last so long. And if Ginny went unconscious at any time the sparkles would stop."

"Then let's pray she didn't."

The three of them marched quickly along, following the silver trail. The forest rushed by, faster and faster as they broke into a trot then a run. THe trees became darker, more condensed and gnarled.

Pansy skittered to a halt. THe boys, following her, almost ran into her.

Blaise followed her eyes. "This can't be good."

The trail ended.

888

Pansy allowed herself a moment of self defeat. THen she squared her shoulders and turned resolutely to the boys.

"Alright gentlemen. Here's the plan. Mikale, you head right. Blaise, left. I'll continue straight. Go thirty yards. If you don't find anything, then come back. If none of us find anything, we'll start again on the diagonals. Ok?"

Both nodded and started out in searche of some knid of clue. Pansy turned and continued in the direction she had been heading. She travelled for about three minutes, scouring the ground for a clue. NOthing. Not a damned thing.

She sighed. She was a fool to think it would be that easy. She turned and returned to the end of the trail.Blaise was already back there, shaking his head as she came in. She sighed again.

Mikale returned, his eyes bright with excitement. "I think I may have found something."

Pansy dared not hope. She followed him back towards where he had come from. He pointed to a branch. At first Pansy didn't see anything to get excited over. Then her eye caught the red strand as it glistened in the light from their wands. She darted over and plucked it off.

"Oh my God!" She exhaulted. "This is fantastic!"

"Ok, I seem to have missed the class where strands of hair merit such excitement." Blaise drawled. "Care to enlighten me?"

Pansy grinned. "Alright! There's a spell that lets you follow a person based on their DNA. With this strand of hair, we can track down Ginny."

"Well that's good. By all means, continue!"

Pansy returned her attention to the hair. The strand in question was a brilliant copper, glinting brighter in the glow of her wand.She muttered the spell, tapping the strand as she did so. The strand glowed and a bright crimson trail shot off.

"I learned this Spell in the army. You get a peice of the person's clothing or hair and the spell follows the DNA of a person." Pansy explained to Blaise as they darted off after the trail.

He nodded. Suddenly he stopped. Pansy frowned at him but halted as well.

"I think we're here." He whispered.

Pansy turned and stared at the stone tower. Before her was a window. She moved towards it, going to tiptoe to peer into the room. She gasped.

Lying on a bed, in the center of the room was Ginny Weasley.

(A/N: Only one more chapter!

To 123- (laughs) You little barterer! Very well!