Alot of action in this chapter, and I don't mean sex. Enjoy!

The Façade: Chapter 11

Ginny woke up feeling very content. Draco was spooning her from behind, his strong arms encircling her waist and his breath in her ear. Then she heard distant voices.

"Bill, honey, welcome home. Hello Fleur, dear. Yes, go upstairs and wake the children. Draco is in the twins' room."

She panicked. "Draco! Wake up!" She pulled his arms off her and ran to slip on her nightie. "Jesus, Draco, do you know any charms that will cover these up?" she gestured towards the very prominent hickeys on her neck. She could hear footsteps on the stairs. Draco drowsily pointed his wand at her and muttered the incantation. She almost made it, slipping out ever so quietly into the hallway, but Bill was just closing Ron's door and he saw her from down the hall.

"Don't say anything to mum, please?"

"I wouldn't, you know that. But Gin… uch, you're my baby sister!"

Ginny didn't bother to deny what she had been doing. She just kissed Bill on the cheek, said "Thanks, big brother", and gave him a winning smile as she sauntered over to the bathroom.

---

Ginny was feeling very at peace as she walked towards Hogsmeade to meet Draco. She had forced herself to stay and finish her essay for Snape before coming out to meet him, and now that she had done it she could relax and enjoy the first Hogsmeade weekend of the term. Suddenly, she felt a hand grab her wrist tightly. Before she could scream, she felt a tug behind her navel and she was lifted off the ground and into nothingness.

Draco! Draco, HELP!

Ginny! What's happening? Where are you?

They've captured me! Your father's cronies, Deatheaters… I think I'm at your house.

Do they know?

They know about our relationship, and they obviously know that you haven't really been working for them. They don't know about the telepathy, or the visions. Draco, it's a trap. Whatever you do, don't come here. They're using me to get to you. I can't send messages anymore. It's using up my strength, such a far distance… They're going to notice if I don't stop.

Ginny, I'm going to help you. I'm getting Dumbledore. Don't tell them anything.

Draco apparated to the front gates and ran up to the castle. It felt like seconds before he was in front of Dumbledore's door. He said the password breathlessly and ran up the staircase.

Dumbledore was never there when you needed him.

---

An owl was following him.

Draco was running back to the front gates to apparate. He barely noticed the inconspicuous barn owl flying behind him. Then it swooped down and perched on his shoulder, digging claws into his back.

The short letter was in Ginny's handwriting, but shaky and frightened looking.

Draco,

They know. They've captured me.

I'm at Malfoy Manor. Please, Draco, help!

Ginny

Bullshit. They made Ginny write that, he knew it. She had already told him telepathically, which is a much easier mode of communication when you're being held prisoner.

He felt himself gag slightly, burning tears starting to come down his face. Dumbledore had said that one day his life might be in danger; that Ginny might have to save him. But he had hoped that she would never need him like this, even though he had known in the back of his mind that it was possible.

He searched Hogsmeade for the teachers, but none were to be found. Finally, he decided out of desperation that that the stupidest thing he could possibly do was the only thing to do. He apparated to his house.

Ginny, I'm coming.

I can feel you nearby. You aren't in Hogsmeade anymore. Don't Draco- please! Get someone else! This is exactly what they want!

Draco barely heard her. She was still conscious and sane. That's what mattered.

Ginny felt herself being pulled into a waking vision. It was just a glimpse, a flash of Draco in pain, writhing on the stone floor of the room she was in now. She called for him more urgently.

Draco, please! They're going to get you too! Please don't!

It didn't occur to Draco that she had seen this- he thought she was just worrying about what could happen. He crept up to the window hidden within the bushes, through which he could see the dungeons. He knew they would be there.

His blood boiled as he saw the scene inside.

"We will keep torturing you until we've successfully lured my son out of Hogwarts. However, tell us something we want to know, and it could be easier for you. The more you talk, the less you're crucioed." Lucius laughed.

Ginny's arms and legs were strapped tightly to the stone wall behind her, so that each time the curse was thrown at her the pain was increased by the leather bands cutting into her skin as she writhed against them. By now, her wrists and ankles were bleeding in bands, red liquid dripping into her socks. She had multiple gashes on her face where it had been hit by a leather whip, and she didn't look as though she could take much more.

Lucius was flanked by four other Deatheaters, all male and very tough-looking. They seemed to be there just to give him (im)moral support (not that he needed it), and possibly in case Draco brought reinforcements. He suddenly wished he had (not that he hadn't tried, to his credit), but there was nothing to be done about it at this point.

"Kill me, Lucius," Ginny said weakly, but with more contempt in her voice then Draco had ever heard there. "I'm not telling you anything." She spat in his face. Draco felt an overwhelming surge of love for her. He wanted to hold her tight, heal her wounds, curl up in her embrace forever.

"Crucio!" The moment Draco saw Ginny's face contorted in pain, tears running down her cheeks as her wounds reopened, he couldn't take it anymore. Blasting the window beneath him with his wand, he fell to the floor of the chamber and turned his wand on his own father before the Deatheaters had time to react.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A/N: Oooh, the first real cliffhanger of this story! Did Draco's curse meet its mark? Can he take on four Deatheaters? Is Ginny going to be okay? It was a little shorter than I wanted it to be, but so are all my chapters. Now, because I'm evil, I think I'll wait for a little encouragement before I post the next chapter. That means REVIEW!