Chapter 14: Malfoy Manor
He sat in the cool dark, leaning his head back against the slimy wall behind him. He shifted his weight, trying to find the most comfortable position. Well, as comfortable as one could be when taking a sojourn in a dank dungeon cell with thick, heavy chains binding them to the floor. His father had left late last night for a meeting with Mouldy Voldy and he had returned in a furious state. That had then lead to where Draco was now, shackled to a wall in his Father's lowest dungeon. Thankfully, he had been able to smuggle his emergency firewhiskey in with him, which made it slightly more bearable.
Draco pulled his hand towards his face and turned towards the nearly empty firewhiskey bottle, straining to place the lip in his mouth. A sweet burn flooded his mouth and Draco swallowed with a grimace. Despite being almost completely wasted, the taste of the alcohol had not improved in the slightest. With a sigh, he tipped the remainder down his throat, throwing the bottle at the opposite wall and smiling at the sound of it shattering.
More than a little bit drunk, Draco looked around him, struggling to make his eyes focus. Although still very much aware of his difficult situation, Draco found it almost impossible to concentrate, which had been the purpose of his getting drunk in the first place. Now, everything was warm and fuzzy. He thought with a malicious smirk that this was probably how goody-goody Gryffindor's felt all the time.
He turned his thoughts to how Ginny would react when he never returned to Hogwarts, his death neither confirmed nor denied until he'd been missing so long that it was assumed. Would she go back to Potter, back to being second best to the entire world? Would she lock herself away, become a dark and bitter person? Or would she just forget about him, move on to bigger and better things? His only consolation was that if he did die, she would know. All of his spells would release her, and she would change back to normal. Would she grieve for him, without her fabricated love?
Depressed by his thoughts, Draco turned his mind to Blaise and their plan for world domination. Surely Blaise would already be dead if their plan had been discovered. Draco was only kept alive now so that his Father could plan the best and longest way in which to kill him. A traitor's death was neither quick nor easy. How had they been discovered? They had been meticulous in their defences of their secret room, they never spoke of their plans without layers upon layers of secrecy spells and they had guarded their thoughts carefully when around others how could use legimency. What had betrayed their plans to the Dark Lord?
Frustrated, Draco turned to stare at the wall, focusing his eyes on the bricks as he counted them to pass the time. It had been at least three hours since he had been thrown in here, so it would surely be nearly morning by now. With a sigh, Draco looked up at the slimy ceiling of the dungeon and settled in to wait.
The sound of the dungeon door being unlocked woke Draco from his stupor and he raised his head, blinking up at the fuzzy moving shape in front of him. His head was pounding and he found it difficult to concentrate on focusing his eyes. He realised that despite being so uncomfortable, he must have managed to fall asleep.
"Draco, you've got a visitor," Lucius drawled, obviously pleased with himself. Draco saw someone being shoved roughly into the dungeon and then noticed his Father locking the door again and leaving.
"Hello Blaise," Draco said with resignation. Although he was glad to see his friend alive, it meant that they were being kept alive for a reason, probably so that Mouldemort could make an example of them.
"How did you know it was me?" Blaise asked him, settling down on the floor beside him.
"Your cologne," Draco said with a rueful smile, "I'd recognise that horribly expensive stench anywhere." Blaise laughed and shook his head in disbelief.
"You do realise how gay that sounds, right Draco?" Blaise asked him with a typical Slytherin smirk.
"Of course," Draco said, responding in kind. "Now tell me Blaise, what's going on?"
Blaise studied Draco, serious now. He knew that his friend had to have been going out of his mind with worry for him. Little did he realise that they had more important things to be thinking about. With a sigh, Blaise told Draco of how the Dark Lord had seen their revulsion in their minds when they were introduced and had sought out something to control them with.
"And take a wild guess who he chose?" Blaise said wryly.
"Fuck!" Draco swore, realising that although he was no longer in threat of being killed, Ginny was now in horrible danger. And with her safety threatened, he would have to become the Dark Lord's willing puppet.
"If he touches so much as a single hair on her head, I will personally hunt him down, turn him inside out, make him turn pink and then wear him as a hideous yet remarkably fashionable cowboy hat," Draco vowed angrily.
"Good imagery," Blaise said with a tight smile. "You always were the best at that."
"I was always the best at everything, Zabini."
***
Luna strolled down the forest path, a dreamy smile on her face. Ever since her encounter with the winter fairy, she had been drawn towards the snow, spending more and more time outside. There was something so beautiful about the icy white blanket settled over every possible surface. She transfigured a tree stump into a chair and sat down in a small clearing, revelling in the clear, crisp smell in the air.
Looking around her with sharp, inquisitive eyes, Luna noticed movement beyond the white meadow where she sat. The black of their robes stood out prominently against the background of snow.
Knowing how futile it would be to resist, Luna sat calmly and awaited the Death Eaters. A spark of premonition told her that everything would work out and that she would learn a lot from this experience with the darkness.
The two death eaters stopped before her, their masks hiding their bewildered expressions at her calm exterior.
"Hello," Luna said quietly, "are you here to kill me?
The death eaters looked at each other and shrugged, both grabbing a hold of one of her arms. "No, Lovegood, but you're coming with us."
Without waiting for her response, they apparated with her and appeared outside of a large metallic fence, where two menacing vampires were guarding the entrance.
"State your name and business here," they hissed, their beady red eyes drifting to the pulse beating at Luna's throat.
"McNair and Nott. We brought one of the girls," the shorter death eater responded quietly. It wasn't a good idea to rile a vampire. All death eaters had training in dealing with them; they tended to suck you dry and then ask questions later.
The vampires moved aside and the large iron-wrought gate slowly opened with a horrible screech. Luna looked around in wonder as she stepped through the wards into a veritable heaven. Everywhere she could see was rare and beautiful beasts and fantastic plants that stretched as far as she could see. As she was pulled along by McNair and Nott Luna took in as much detail as she possibly could, never knowing when it would come in handy.
They walked for what seemed like half an hour and Luna wondered where they were going. Just as she was starting to tire the Death Eaters halted and she peered past them at a magnificent and forbidding castle.
"What is this place?" She whispered in awe. One of the Death Eaters turned back towards her and he pushed back his hood, smirking down at her.
"This is Malfoy Manor," he said with a malicious grin, expecting her to cower in fear.
"Is it really? Are we going to see Draco?" She asked with a beaming grin. The Death Eater faltered as he stared down at the petite Ravenclaw in shock.
"You're not scared?" He asked her in disbelief, looking from Luna to the large castle behind him.
"Of course not!" She said indignantly, "Draco is a friend of mine."
"You're not here for a social call, Lovegood," he snarled, "the Dark Lord wants to see you." Luna looked up at him calmly and he grabbed her arm, pulling her after him, infuriated at her lack of response.
***
Draco and Blaise sat next to each other in companionable silence, brooding over what was to become of them. Although things were not as bad as they feared, they were still plenty bad enough. Draco was sure that it was only a matter of time until they were joined by the girls.
As if his thought had summoned them, he heard footsteps coming towards the dungeons and he sat forward, searching for the one face he hoped not to see. Draco narrowed his eyes as his father came into view, pulling a reluctant girl behind him. He shoved the girl into the cell with him and Blaise and slammed it shut again, stalking off without a word. Draco felt relief and fear as he looked into the glazed eyes of Luna Lovegood.
She was covered in cuts and bruises, and Draco felt his anger rising at the Dark Lord and his minions. How cowardly to torture a young girl for information. Luna stumbled over to him and he caught her in his arms, settling her next to him carefully.
"Luna," he said quietly, "are you alright?" She looked up into his face and her eyes seemed to clear.
"Did you know that you have a Crumple Horned Snorklack in your gardens?" She asked him with a tentative smile. Draco grinned down at her, pleased that she wasn't too badly hurt from his father's ministrations.
"Is that so?" He asked with a smirk, "you'll have to show it to me when we get out of here." Luna nodded.
"I'm sorry you got dragged into this mess, Luna," Blaise told her quietly, taking her small hand in his own. He was deeply impressed that she had both mentally and physically survived torture at Lucius' hands.
"It's alright Blaise," she said with a smile, "I knew what I risked when I became friends with you and Draco. That's why I learnt Occlumency." Draco and Blaise stared down at her in astonishment.
"You know Occlumency? You didn't tell Lucius anything?" Blaise asked her, severely shocked.
"Of course I didn't," Luna responded. "As soon as Ginny and Olli started dating you two we all learnt Occlumency. Ginny was afraid that we would be used as tools against you. It wasn't that hard really." Blaise shook his head in disbelief. Their witches were far more intelligent than he or Draco had credited them to be.
Draco leant back against the wall he was shackled to, his mind working quickly. Ginny knew Occlumency and she had the Vindico amulet, not to mention all the control spells he had woven around her. There was nothing his father could do to harm her or make her come here except to hurt those she cared about. Although he wouldn't mind a few less Weasley's walking the Earth, he knew that he must warn her.
He turned inward, focusing his mind on everything Ginny. Her wild red hair, the freckles that covered her body, the way her eyes glittered when she was happy or laughing, that spot on her neck that just begged to be licked. He shuddered as he felt his connection to her inside his soul, a long rope that bound them together. Draco sent his mind along this rope and he found her sitting in what he presumed to be her room.
Ginny, he thought to her, focusing with intense concentration on her mind. She started and looked around her in confusion. It's alright Ginny, it's me, Draco.
Again, she looked around, searching for him. "Draco? Where are you?"
Shhh, I'm speaking to you through the amulet, in your mind.
"You can do that?" she whispered in awe, staring down at the green amulet that rested just above her breasts.
Evidently, yes. Now listen to me Ginny. You are in grave danger. Somehow the Dark Lord has learnt of our relationship and although he cannot harm you, he will harm those you love to make you do his bidding.
"What?" She cried out in fear. "Draco, what's happening? Where are you?"
Hush Ginny, you don't have much time. You must get you and your family to safety. I'm with Blaise and Luna, we're all ok. Now go!
Ginny flew out of her room and down the stairs, grabbing her mother and father.
"Quick, she urged them, "there are Death Eaters coming, we have to get out of here. Please, I'll explain everything when we're safe." They did not question her and her father grabbed her, apparating out of the house. They appeared in front of Grimmauld Place and she ushered her parents inside.
"Contact everyone else; warn them not to go to the Burrow. It isn't safe anymore," Ginny urged them, afraid for her brothers. Arthur nodded and rushed into the kitchen to use the Floo and Molly turned to Ginny, hugging her close.
"Ginny, tell me what's wrong," her mother urged.
"Ok, Mum, but this will be very difficult to hear," she responded, leading her mother into the kitchen and sitting her down. "My new boyfriend is a Slytherin, and his family is heavily involved with the Death Eaters." Molly gave out a cry of shock.
"Before you jump to conclusions, he's not like his family. He's a good guy and I really, really love him. He would never willingly put me in danger. This situation is way beyond his control," Ginny cut through Molly's objections.
"Who is this boy, Ginny? Why would you put yourself and your family in danger?" Molly asked, grabbing her daughter's hand as she tried to understand what was going on.
"It's Malfoy," Ginny whispered, looking upset as Molly's face blanched with shock and anger. "But he's not who everyone thinks he is, Mum. He's not evil. He's really intelligent, and snarky and ridiculously vain but he would never willingly follow you-know-who. Although to be honest I'm not sure whether that has more to do with his morals and values or having to get the Dark Mark on his forearm," Ginny said with a small smile, her earnestness shining from her face. Molly fell quiet and studied her daughter, seeing the trust and love she felt towards this boy. Perhaps she would reserve her judgement for now, until she knew more.
"Very well love, I'll trust your judgement. Now tell me everything you know," Molly commanded. Ginny frowned then, looking worried. Draco had said that he was with Blaise and Luna, that were ok, but he had said nothing about where they were or what was going on.
"I know very little about what is going on. Draco contacted me a little while ago, I can't tell you how, but he told me you-know-who had learnt of our relationship and that he was coming for me. He said that they would harm my family to make me do what he wants and to get you all to safety. That's why I didn't have time to explain, they're probably already at the Burrow," Ginny explained sadly. The Death Eaters would probably ransack everything and burn down her home. She felt a wave of sadness overwhelm her as she thought of the Burrow in flames.
***
"Ginny is safe," Draco reported to the others, coming out of his meditation. He had watched her discussion with her parents from her mind and was happy that she had gotten to safety so quickly. He had nearly choked when she had called him vain, the little minx.
"Good," Blaise responded while Luna studied Draco curiously.
"How did you do that?" She asked, her Ravenclaw mind ticking the information over in her mind. Draco made his expression blank and looked into her eyes, seeing her getting angry as the few possibilities registered.
"The protective amulet gives me a mind link with Ginny, allowing me to know when she is in danger," Draco said with an emotionless expression. He hoped that Luna would not figure out the possibilities open to him through the mind link. It gave him the power to not only read her mind and communicate with her, but to also possess her if he so wished. Not that he ever foresaw the need to use that power.
Luna's eyes narrowed at him and Draco struggled to keep his expression innocent and calm. She turned away but Draco knew that he had not heard the end of this. However, he did not regret allowing Luna to see him link with Ginny, it had been a necessary evil. The Dark Lord must not get his hands on Ginny. Draco held not a single doubt in his mind that Voldemort would do all in his power to break her, and he would not allow that hideous half-blood to harm her. Ginny belonged to him; no dark Lord or Death Eater would take her away from him.
Draco turned his mind now to the future. Although the Dark Lord had not discovered his plot to overthrow him and the Death Eaters, things were still plenty bad enough. He needed to come up with multiple cunning plans that would turn this to his advantage.
Malfoy's always came up on top. And it was time to step up and prove himself a more cunning and devious Malfoy than his father. Many lives counted on it.
***
Blaise studied Draco silently, secretly awed that his friend held such amazing control over Ginny that he could enter her mind at will. It took great power to do such a thing, and Draco had done it without so much as breaking a sweat. He was glad that he and Draco were on the same side.
He turned his mind to their predicament, and wondered what had happened to alert Voldemort to their lives at Hogwarts. Blaise knew everyone in Slytherin very well, and could not think of anyone who would so willingly hand over their Slytherin princes to Voldemort.
Although the other houses believed that they were all destined to become Death Eaters when they left Hogwarts, it was actually not so. It was common knowledge amongst the Slytherins that the Dark Lord was actually a half-blood called Tom Riddle and as such he was quietly scorned and ridiculed. Instead, the Slytherins were fiercely loyal to himself and Draco, the two most influential and eligible heirs in the entirety of Britain. When they came into their birthrights, there would be no more powerful partnership on the continent. It was this that allowed them the leniency to follow their own path towards pureblood domination.
However, someone must have gone to Mouldy Voldy and told him of Draco's relationship with Ginny Weasley and his own with Olli, and Luna must be here because of her friendship with the four of them. He wondered whether even Duke would be forced to make an appearance. It troubled him that there was a traitor among their Slytherins and he vowed to seek them out. It would never do to allow this to continue unchecked.
They had been sold out to the enemy, and someone would pay.
He turned now to watch the valiant young woman seated beside him. She seemed unfazed by her stay in the Malfoy dungeons, which Blaise found surprising. He admitted now to himself that he did not know her very well and this troubled him. At Hogwarts he had been so caught up in his fights with Blaise that he had failed to recognise Luna's wit and intellect. Now he found himself inexorably drawn towards her.
Blaise longed to get to know this little Ravenclaw better, wondering if the connection he felt now would only grow stronger with time. Even this small bond he had now with Luna was more than he had ever experienced with Olli. His experience with her had been a flight of fancy, a burst of lust for a creature that quickly paled in comparison with the bright young witch who was Luna Lovegood.
He leaned down and began to whisper to her, asking her random questions about her life. As she looked up at him with bright knowing eyes, Blaise felt hooks grabbing in his chest binding them together. He would not let her go easily.
***
Lucius paced in his office, angry and frustrated. He had witnessed Pansy's confession to Voldemort and it had infuriated him that his son had involved himself with that Weasley filth. He had thought he had brought up his son better than to consort with a blood traitor. If only Potter hadn't interfered, that little muggle-lover would now be dead, and his loyalty wouldn't be in question with his Lord.
The Death Eaters he had sent to intercept the Weasley girl had returned empty handed, finding their home abandoned. The Dark Lord would not be pleased when he found out about their incompetency. And it would be he who would pay; the Dark Lord would have his pound of flesh, and it would be stripped from his hide.
How could this situation be salvaged? If there was one thing he had learnt, it was that every problem had a solution; there was a way for him to come out on top. There had to be.
His plotting was interrupted by his forearm burning. His Lord was summoning him. Lucius pulled up his cloak and put on his Death Eater mask, apparating to Lord Voldemort's stronghold. He kneeled before the Dark Lord.
"You summoned me, my Lord?" Voldemort studied his loyal servant with narrowed eyes and twirled his wand in his long, pale fingers.
"What news, Lucius? Have you captured all of the traitors?" Voldemort asked in a low, menacing voice. Lucius trembled in fear and answered;
"Draco is locked in my dungeon, joined by the Zabini boy and Luna Lovegood. Olivia and Duke have yet to be apprehended, and the Weasley girl has vanished," Lucius told him quietly. Voldemort hissed in anger and pointed his wand at the pale blonde kneeling before him.
"Then you have failed,' Voldemort spat out angrily. "Crucio!" Lucius screamed, falling to the ground and writhing in pain. On and on it went, wave after wave of pain permeating every part of his being. Finally, the Dark Lord relented and Lucius gingerly got to his feet.
"Find her, Lucius," Voldemort crooned. "You won't get another chance."
"Yes, my Lord," Lucius bowed, apparating back to his office with a loud crack. He sat down, studying his trembling hands. Draco and his little friends would pay dearly for their mistakes. He would make sure of it.
***
Ginny sat against her pillows, trying to recreate her connection with Draco. She needed to know that he and the others were safe and out of harm's way. She didn't know what she would do if she found out that her friends were in grave danger but she needed to know. She was going insane with worry.
She shut her eyes and allowed her mind to wander. Ginny pictured Draco sitting in front of her, his pale blonde hair ruffled immaculately around his aristocratic features, his lips set into his infamous Slytherin smirk, and the smooth drawl of his voice. As she concentrated on his essence, she felt a tenuous connection extended over a long way, stretching from her body into the darkness. Somehow Ginny knew that this would lead her to Draco.
With her mind she trapped the connection, memorising its taste and feel. She would never have trouble finding it again. Ginny now had the opportunity to be glad about the high level of discipline she had instilled in her mind through her mastery of Occlumency. This would be impossible otherwise.
Cautiously, Ginny began to follow the thread towards Draco. After half an hour of trailing it, she finally discovered Draco's mind. She glided easily through his defences and settled her consciousness inside of his.
Ginny? How did you get here? Draco asked, suddenly aware of her presence.
I followed the link between us, Ginny informed him, it was quite simple, really. Now tell me Draco, what is going on? Where are you?
That was dangerous, Draco warned her, and you shouldn't do it again unless you know it's safe. As for where I am, I'm at Malfoy Manor.
Ginny narrowed her eyes at his evasiveness. And I suppose everything is fine and dandy, nothing to worry about at all, she questioned him sarcastically.
Absolutely, Draco agreed.
Well in that case, it's perfectly safe for me to return home, Ginny shot back with forced happiness.
Alright, he said crossly. I might be locked in the dungeons.
What? What did you do? She gasped in horror.
Well if you must know, I went out with you and someone tattled. Something about the whole blood traitor situation I imagine.
Don't be contrary, Draco. We have to get you and the others out. I'll come and...
You will not come here, he roared angrily, surprising her with his forcefulness.
But Draco, you're in trouble. I have to help you," Ginny responded miserably.
Everything is under control, Ginny. You don't need to worry. Now go back before you're discovered, he instructed her.
I love you, Draco. Be safe, Ginny implored him. Then she fled back to her body, overcome by pins and needles as she got to her feet. Determination flooded her body and Ginny marched from the room. There were plans to be made; she would not let Tom hurt her boyfriend or her friends. Not on her watch.