Ginny read and reread the letter, or rather, the sentence. The implications of those five little words were monumental. Flipping the envelope over she studied the postmark…the date was for October 25…that very day…and it was sent from Connelly Mason…her town.
That ruled out a witch or wizard in Ginny's opinion, no one outside of her family and Harry knew where she lived. She had to have it that way; she was, after all, somewhat of a celebrity in the wizarding world.
Her house was even bewitched to repel owls delivering fan mail. The little enchantment was a twist on the Fidelius charm, but not quite as restrictive as there was no secret keeper involved, and it only barred absolute strangers from invading her retreat.
Ginny's mind at once flew to Mrs. Wallington. Her curse had been quite effective, she knew this for a fact, but who else could it possibly be? She had blatantly told Tate that she was a witch.
She wondered fleetingly if the letter perhaps had nothing to do with her magical abilities, but she couldn't fathom anything else it could possibly be in regards to. As far as the townspeople knew, she was a well-mannered and pleasant young woman with no past and nothing to hide.
It had to be Mrs. Wallington. There was just no other explanation.
"But it's not an explanation at all!" she groaned in frustration.
How could Wallington know after Ginny had modified her memory? Did the ministry reverse her memory charm? If they had, then they were unbelievably thick, but she already knew this to be a fact, so it really wouldn't shock her to find the idea true.
"If they really removed my memory charm, then they just let the biggest gossip in all of Britain know that witches and wizards exist," Ginny said cynically to Basil.
Someone knocked on her door. Hastily wadding the message into her pocket, she crossed the livingroom and answered. Harry was standing on the threshold, at which point Basil stalked out of the room, flicking his tale huffily.
"Hey, Gin," he greeted happily, "I've come to go over some new information I dug up at the ministry regarding your case. They let me snoop around a bit today, and will probably kick themselves when they find out I'm defending you."
"I wish you would have owled, Harry. This is really not a good time," the redhead responded uneasily.
The messy haired man's countenance shifted immediately to apprehension. "What's wrong, Ginny?" he pressed.
"This is what's wrong," she replied dully, thrusting the letter into his hands, and then walking bitterly towards her kitchen for some much needed Honeydukes Chocolate. "It arrived with the post today."
Harry rushed after her, having read the ominous words, and asked quite astonished, "Who do you think sent it?"
"Wallington," Ginny replied in an unemotional drawl, while fumbling through her food cupboard.
"But you fixed her. She can't know," he said assertively.
"And you know this for a fact?" she challenged, finding her stash of the sweet candy and breaking off a hunk of it.
"Yeah, I know. You were an auror, one of the best. Do you really think you screwed up a simple memory charm?" Harry asked incredulously.
"I know I didn't mess it up. I'm saying that someone else interfered," Ginny answered.
"You mean the Ministry interfered," the black haired man smirked; it was a statement, not a question.
"Exactly," she confirmed, sinking her teeth into the velvety chocolate.
"You're sure it's Mrs. Wallington?" Harry asked.
"I don't see how it could be anyone else," the redhead replied through a mouthful of chocolate.
She shut her eyes and rested against the kitchen counter, savoring the comforting flavor for a moment, then continued, her eyes still closed and her tenor now disinterested, "I told her outright, and you know how vigilant I normally am about concealing my magic."
"Like an auror," he surmised, and Ginny smiled.
She considered for several more seconds, indulging in more chocolate, "I don't think anyone could figure my secret out, not unless I told them. And I told her."
"I'll see what else I can find out," Harry decided. "The head of the magical reversal squad owes me a favor, and I know a very clever man who's like a father to me that heads the misuse of muggle artifacts office."
Ginny smiled again, "You're a pet, Harry."
"I know," he replied, smiling back.
"What did you find out already?" she asked, recalling the original motive for his visit.
Her response was the gurgling of the young man's stomach.
"Hungry?" she teased, an eyebrow arched.
"A bit," was his slightly embarrassed reply.
"Want to nip down to the little café in the town square for dinner? I bet they've put the Halloween decorations up, it's only a week away," Ginny suggested, choosing to suppress the dread that this fact meant her hearing was only a week away as well.
"Sounds great," Harry agreed. "Want to bring your book and read a bit together? We can discuss the hearing afterwards. I just finished the part where we were captured, and I'm very interested in knowing what happened after we were separated…in your own words."
"I'd say that the idea would be lovely… except my name is scrawled across the cover. That wouldn't draw any unwanted attention," the redhead replied sarcastically.
Harry walked into the livingroom and found the book. A flick of his wand later, the cover read, "Draconem Vincere, By Minerva McGonagall."
Handing the book to her, he chuckled, "And you call yourself a witch," to which she rolled her eyes most expertly.
Retrieving a light jacket, Ginny walked out of the front door, which Harry was holding open for her, book in hand. He set her wards, and they began walking down the packed dirt road towards the village, while Ginny proceeded to read aloud.
"Chapter 14…Slavery…"
Ginny was thrust unceremoniously into a dank, foul smelling cell. She flew at the door and her captor, but he had already slammed the bars in her face, guffawing menacingly. He removed the ropes binding her hands with a flick of his wand and left her.
She knew this place, it was the same prison that had been in her dream, but she now highly doubted that the vision of Hermione was true.
How could Hermione have betrayed them? Was she under the imperius curse? Had Voldemort tortured her until there was nothing left but an unquestioningly obedient evil creature?
Ginny squinted into the cell across form hers and saw the slight outline of the other prisoner.
"Harry?" she whispered.
No response.
"Harry?" she tried again, fear tingeing her voice.
Still no response.
Her eyes, however, were adjusting to the darkness quickly, and she could now see him sitting against a wall by the bars, staring blankly at a point on the corridor floor.
"Harry, how are we going to get out of here?" she chanced.
"Did you see the way she looked at me…" was his disconnected reply.
Realizing that he would be quite unhelpful until the shock of everything had worn off, she stood up and took stock of herself. The enemy had taken her wand and her invisibility cloak, so all she had left was herself, and her clothes. She pulled her trunk and broom out of her pocket, examining them. Without her wand to unshrink them, these items were useless.
"Not much to work with," she snorted, almost smiling when she imagined throwing the trunk at the head of one guard to knock him out, and then using the tiny broom handle to poke the second guard's eyes out.
She knew that she was grasping straws with her ridiculous notions, and decided to find out what help her prison could offer her.
There was a slit of a window located at the back of her cell, and Ginny stood on an unsteady little bench to peer out. It was still bright afternoon outside, but the glass was opaque with filth, and Ginny could see nothing out of it. She tried to rub the muck off with the sleeve of her robe, but to no effect. Even if the glass weren't unbreakable, which she was sure it was, the window was too small for her to fit through.
Walking the perimeter of the room, she found a small puddle of fetid brown water in one corner and a pile of very soggy, moldy straw in another. Ginny felt no better off, but hadn't truly expected to find her salvation in the little room.
Easing onto the cold stone floor facing Harry, she tried to think of what they could possibly do. Hours passed and nothing came to her but the recurring thoughts of how stupid she was for trusting Malfoy…for believing that he had changed…for not doing something more to stop what had happened…for not kicking Malfoy in the groin when she had the chance…
When it was thoroughly dark outside her dingy window, Ginny finally conceded to the fact that she was exhausted, and that her bum was too sore to sit on stone a moment longer. She crossed over to the pungent hay and lay down. Taking a glance at Harry before shutting her eyes, she saw that he was still staring at the spot in the passage.
Ginny soon found out that it was rather a difficult endeavor to fall asleep on a thin layer of very foul straw, even when extremely tired. She might as well have just been on the stone.
Muffled voices drifted from somewhere.
They were getting louder.
Ginny opened her eyes slightly in the darkness and heard footsteps. Long shadows appeared on the passage floor, silhouetted by the faint light that emanated from the stairway.
She scrambled to her feet and flew at the bars. Three figures were coming down the steps, but she couldn't make out their identities as the light behind them darkened their features.
A familiar voice drawled, telling her at least the identity of one of them, "Well, Virginia, I thought you would be asleep, seeing that I kept you up quite past your bedtime for the last two nights.
"It's Ginevra," she seethed, flopping back down onto the hay. To her surprise, the door to her cell was opened. Her surprise quickly ebbed into fear as the two people with Malfoy entered and advanced on her.
She tried to put up a fight, but the struggle of the petite woman was no match for the two huge men. They each grabbed her by an arm and dragged her towards the door.
Harry was up on his feet, his eyes flashing, hands gripping the bars so tightly that they were white as bones. This was the first action Ginny had seen out of him since they had been taken from the thrown hall.
"Leave her alone, Malfoy!" he shouted.
The blond laughed derisively. "Are you going to stop me, Potter?" he drawled.
They heaved her through the cell door and stood her in front of Draco for scrutiny. A surge of hatred exploded in her being, as well as a burst of unnatural power. She wrenched her arms free of the death eaters' grip and launched at Malfoy, punching him with all her might on his flawless pale face.
He was knocked clean off his feet, and landed against the bars of Harry's cell. Quick as lightning, the-boy-who-lived had Draco in a suffocating chokehold through the bars. Fire burned in his eyes, and he squeezed harder as Draco choked.
Two jets of red sparks whizzed past Ginny's ear and hit Harry in the face. The force threw him into the back wall of the cell, where he fell into a motionless heap on the floor.
"Harry!" the redhead screamed, advancing to the bars next to a sputtering Malfoy.
"Grab her," he rasped out, and she found herself jerked backwards into a now painful hold by the death eaters. Draco finally managed to stagger up to full height, clutching his throat and prodding the sensitive place below his right eye where Ginny had decked him.
He turned to examine the unconscious form of his childhood nemesis, and then faced Ginny, contempt written on his face and fury blazing in his eyes.
"Bind her," he ordered, his voice still hoarse. One of the men obeyed, and with a flick of his wand, Ginny had the ropes replaced on her hands.
Draco advanced on her menacingly, but she simply glared back at him defiantly. "The Dark Lord has granted me a reward for my loyalty to him, and for helping him catch Potter."
He reached out and delicately lifted the silver and sapphire charm hanging from its chain around her neck. Smiling forebodingly at her confused look, he snapped it away from her.
She jumped at the sudden movement, and his smirk broadened. "Well I guess you've figured out what my reward is," he drawled, repairing the damaged clasp with a flick of his wand. "The Dark Lord has given me you."
He cast another spell on the necklace, which glowed bright red for a moment before returning to its usual appearance. "That was a binding charm," he informed her as he placed the necklace around his own neck and tucked it under his robes. "You are now roughly the equivalent of a house elf."
Draco brushed past her, and the death eaters dragged her behind him, laughing. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Harry was still crumpled on the floor. She hoped he would be alright.
They lead her through many winding corridors and up several large staircases. Malfoy finally stopped them at a large mahogany door, which he unlocked with his wand and walked through.
Ginny's mouth dropped as she was forced inside. Not only was the room huge, but it was also one of the most richly appointed rooms she had ever been in. The walls were of polished mahogany panels with gilded filigree. The floor and high ceiling were also of a rich polished wood with intricately inlaid patterns. She admired a beautiful chandelier that hung in the middle of the grand room.
An opulent fireplace with a marble mantle stood on the wall to her left with a portrait of a striking blond woman and young boy hanging above it in a great gilded frame. The other wall housed an imposing arched window with heavy green velvet curtains.
Lavishly patterned area carpets coordinated with the curtains, as well as the handsome settees and high backed chairs. A mahogany table and four splendid chairs stood near the window.
She snapped out of her daze and closed her mouth when she felt the death eaters release her. They shared a few hushed words with Draco before he showed them out.
Draco turned momentarily to shut the door behind them, and a glass shattered above his head.
"YOU TRAITOROUS BASTARD!" she screamed at the top of her voice, finally breaking out of her stupor, being that she was now alone with her betrayer.
He turned deftly under the rain of shards, and said firmly, "Immobilus," which hit the very irate Ginny squarely in the chest. She was frozen mid throw next to his bourbon decanter, a second glass, also frozen, already halfway towards him in the air.
"Impressive, Ginny," he cooed, walking to the airborne tumbler and plucking it out of the air. "Especially since you are still bound." He gave her a piercing look, and then hurled the glass as hard as he could at the door, where it exploded with an earsplitting crash.
If Ginny could have moved, she would have flinched. Draco spun back around very quickly, pure anger and hatred contorting his whole body. "DO YOU THINK I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN?" he bellowed. "I'M NOT A FUCKING TRAITOR! If I hadn't acted quickly, none of us would be alive right now. How could I have known that he's been brainwashing Granger for months?"
Taking deep breaths, the blond seemed to deflate as his anger ebbed away. He pointed his wand at her and said dully, "Finite." Ginny unfroze immediately.
"WHY THE BLOODY HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL US HE WAS ALIVE?" Ginny yelled back even louder, voicing the question that she most wanted answered.
"HE WASN'T! IT SHOCKED THE BLOODY HELL OUT OF ME WHEN HE APPEARED INSTEAD OF LESTRANG!" he shouted in disgust. "I had to tell him that Snape and I were planning to betray you all to Bellatrix the whole time! I told him we were planning it as a gift because she's been out for Potter's blood ever since he got that revolting scar."
"And the fact that that Voldemort barometer on your arm suddenly bubbled up again didn't tip you off?" she countered, gesturing to his mark. "EVEN YOU AREN'T THAT THICK!"
Draco was furious. Not so much at Ginny, it was more the whole damned situation. Her yelling at him about things he couldn't control wasn't helping his mood though.
He glared at her a moment longer, then said, "Any wizard with half a brain enough to perform a Protean Charm can do the summoning. And if I were really a traitor, I wouldn't have shown Dumbledore that my mark had returned."
He came towards her abruptly, and Ginny stumbled back a few feet in fear.
"You think I'd actually strike you? Or any woman?" he laughed mirthlessly, looking down at the bourbon tray that no longer held any glasses. "Of course," he surmised, repairing and summoning the glasses under his breath before continuing, "I don't think you'd have a problem defending yourself."
He filled one of the newly repaired glasses with the alcohol, and then drained it in three gulps while Ginny watched dumbstruck. Slamming the glass down, he filled the other one half way and offered it to her. She shook her head quickly.
"Take it. You look like you could use it," he said, shoving the drink into her hands.
Ginny stared at the amber liquid as if she didn't know what to do with it, and Draco spoke again, "Listen to me, I did not betray you. I told the Dark Lord that your brother escaped when I know full well he's wandering around the castle somewhere, probably apparating death eaters! I pretended to go looking for him in the forest for the last five hours when I was really under my invisibility cloak looking for him in this ungodly gigantic place so that we could devise a plan of action! Does that sound like betrayal to you?"
"How the hell have you proven yourself trustworthy? Why in the world should I even remotely begin to believe any bloody thing that comes out of your mouth?" she seethed, then sighed miserably. "Why did you even bring me here? I want to go back to the dungeon. I have better company down there."
Seeing that she wasn't going to drink anything he offered her, Draco snatched the glass back and drained its contents as well, then spoke, "Well since you obviously weren't listening at any point in our extensive preparation for this fabulous failure, I'll remind you that you are in a castle full of disgruntled men who haven't gotten any in a very long time. There is always Bellatrix, of course, but I don't think any of them are quite that desperate." He suppressed a cringe, and then looked at her in a most desirous way. "Whereas you, a beautiful, young, and most importantly, caged little creature would be just the thing to tickle their fancy."
Ginny felt uncomfortable under his gaze, and doubly so when she heard his words. He smirked at her reaction, then opened a panel of the wall that turned out to be a well disguised door and walked through it.
The redhead peered inside. It was the bedroom, and it was just as lavish as the sitting room. Decorated in the same gilded mahogany and luxurious green fabrics, it was definitely more opulent than anything she had ever seen.
She muttered to herself, "What do you care if I become their little play thing?"
"Have you always been this ungrateful?" Draco drawled from inside the room, having obviously overheard her. "I'd have thought that would have been a hard character flaw to cultivate, considering the conditions you were raised in."
"Back to insulting my family are you?" she countered, huffily entering the room after him, "Well, I'd rather have the one character flaw of being ungrateful than to have a list as extensive as yours. And please forgive me if I'm not radiating waves of gratitude at the idea of being upgraded from shackled prisoner to unwilling slave, while my friend rots in a dungeon and my brother risks his life!"
Draco had shrugged off his robe and untucked his shirt from the waistband of his trousers as Ginny went about her tirade. "You actually think you're my slave?" he scoffed, unbuttoning his cuffs and then his shirtfront, revealing a very well defined stomach.
She pointed at his neck as he pulled the shirt off. "You put a binding charm on my necklace and then started wearing it, you git! You told me I was your slave. I can't read your bloody mind, Malfoy!"
"Have you been listening to anything I said? If they think you belong to me, they will not touch you! The charm is for your protection," he said, facing her, "It will keep them away, and it won't let you leave these quarters until I lift it, which means I don't have to worry about you wandering off into the castle on some Gryffindorish mission."
She gave him a scathing look that said her only wish at the moment would be to see him in immense pain of her own doing.
"You didn't answer my question about why you want to keep me safe from them in the first place," she fumed. She was trying to corner him, get him to admit that it was because he cared. This sort of confession would help her see him as the reformed Draco again. However, she would not be granted her desire.
"You know, I'm beginning to wonder that myself," he spat. "I'm finished talking."
He strode over to his wardrobe, giving Ginny an exhibition of his naked torso. Pursing her lips, she stared until he dropped his pants, which caused her to turn scarlet and avert her eyes.
She looked up again as he swished past her, now wearing black satin pajama bottoms. He crawled into his huge, very comfortable looking bed, and she had to pull herself out of thoughts about how sexy he looked in that bed.
She wondered how she could possibly think about how good-looking he was when she was so mad at him.
"Are you joining me, Ginia?" he asked in a mock pleasant voice, and she knew he was challenging her.
Ginny wasn't in the mood to take a challenge. "No, I don't think I shall, thank you," she replied, mimicking his tone of voice.
Walking over to a small and unfortunately hard sofa that was near the fireplace, she curled up, using her arms as a pillow and robes as a blanket.
Draco' looked slightly thwarted, but transfigured the sofa into a very comfortable bed for her.
"Thank you," she whispered after he extinguished the lights.
There was a moment of silence, and then a hesitant "you're welcome" floated to her ears in the darkness.
Ginny shut the book as they kept walking. She and Harry were making the trip back to her house, having eaten a lovely dinner on the restaurant patio where they had talked about the hearing quietly. Ginny had insisted on putting away the book when they entered town, just in case someone overheard her reading a book with her own name in it. She was a little paranoid after receiving that letter, and for good reason, she thought.
Ginny found out that Fudge was spreading plenty of hostile tales about her around the ministry, and had tried without success to make the Daily Prophet run a story about her.
Unlike the days when the minister had gone after Harry, no one who heard about Ginny's little stunt took much offense to it. She had laughed when Harry told her of a conversation he had overheard between Fudge and a secretary, in which, as Fudge brought up Ginny's deed, the witch launched into a rave about 'her spectacular book', and how it had really opened her eyes.
The redhead had watched the townspeople in hopes of spying Mrs. Wallington in the throng, but only received curious stares from the passersby. Did they know something? Could Tate be telling people? Or were they just staring at her because she was with Harry? No doubt they believed the rumors about herself and the handsome dark haired man…the man she was sharing dinner with on a lamp lit terrace at dusk.
They had left the restaurant and strolled around the square a bit to examine the Halloween decorations, then had proceeded back down the dirt road, at which point she had begun to read aloud again.
"Ginny?" Harry asked, breaking her reminisce.
"Yeah, Harry?" she replied mildly.
"Was everything in that chapter true?" he queried, his voice slightly troubled.
"Yes…why?" she answered a bit confused.
"Well, I don't know, it just seems that you went pretty easy on Malfoy. Why did you trust him?"
"Did I have a choice?" she replied easily. The subject didn't bother her anymore unless it came from certain misinformed persons. "Look, Harry, we discussed this to death after it was all over."
"I know," was his reply. "But reading it again just drags up old memories and feelings, you know?"
"I know," she answered, wrapping her arm around his waist and leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked the rest of the way to her house in comfortable silence.
Harry followed her lead and placed his arm snuggly around her waist, hugging her to him, thinking of his doubts no more. He knew that Ginny had done everything she was capable of to help when they had been stuck in that place. Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to do much, as she had basically been moved from one prison cell to another, albeit a very luxurious cell.
He brought his thoughts back to the present. Despite this being a quiet little town, it was dark out, and bad things had been known to occur here before, so he kept up constant vigilance as they walked. When they reached her place, he would tuck her in as he so often did. He usually did this when she was already asleep…and usually when she didn't even know he had been there at all.
Harry felt guilty for invading her privacy sometimes, but since he had begun reading her book, his sense of paranoia and alertness about the events had been reawakened. Turning, he lightly kissed her hair and then rested his chin on top of her head as they continued to walk down the road, the gleaming lights of her livingroom coming into view among the other houses in the distance.
To my loyal readers who all leave such wonderful reviews
Chanita Yes I did just stop there…and I did it on purpose ) But people call me evil all the time, so I'm just living up to the standard. Thanks for reviewing!
Star Beginning to think that the second cliffie was too much too soon…hmmm…guilty? Not really! I really hope that this chapter satisfies your craving for something that doesn't end in a cliffhanger.
Iden's Garden No more cliffies for a bit, I solemnly promise. And I meant to make you think that Draco was betraying them…I like to shock people. But in the end, didn't it make you feel better that he wasn't betraying them? And…after much nagging by many reviewers, after thinking about it over and over, I decided that this chapter would be a great place to reveal the mystery man…I didn't necessarily think that Ginny had to find out at the same time as the readers though. grinsJade-The-Kitsune A fellow cliffie lover and insomniac! YEY! I hope I didn't leave you waiting too very long! Thanks for reviewing again and hope you like it!
Astralis03 Don't you love it when you come across a story you really like and it's already got a bunch of chapters so you don't have to wait for updates? I love those kinds of stories. Yes, it is very hard not to give things away when going from the book to the present. And I ran across another story with the same concept of a book within a story thing shortly after I began posting this one (it was done before mine), and had a momentary fit about being unoriginal. But the story doesn't really weave the chapters within the present characters daily lives, so I wasn't too upset about having the same idea as someone else. Alright, I'm ranting, but thank you so much for your great review!
Angel-Hiragizawa32 Sorry to disappoint and make the blanket tucker dude Harry…I actually almost decided to make him Percy when I was developing the plot before I started writing. You don't know how good your review makes me feel! You're a real sweetie! Sometimes I wish I could make the ideas just STOP! I've got so many that I can't fit them all in and it's sometimes very disappointing to have to cut something I know will never realistically be able to fit into another story. Thanks again for your great review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Meredith Yes, I must agree that that chapter is one of my favorites too, tied with the sunset by the lake chapter and maybe this one too (I had a lot of fun writing the glass throwing and Draco stripping scene…and the Ginny decking Draco scene too)
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't really figure out a way to put anything about Draco's past into this one, but he had quite a bit of explaining to do to a very short tempered young woman I guess.
I'm really relieved to hear that his reasons for joining were acceptably realistic. Keeping my characters actually in character is one of my chief worries, and I find that I usually don't know how I do it once it's all written, it pretty much just happens.
Wow, I really didn't think I paid very much attention to the destruction of the town, but goosebumps must mean that it was pretty chilling. I had so much to cover and was trying to fit it all in reasonably, so I'm glad to hear that though I had to condense it, that the scene was still effective.
I love writing long bits of imagery, I got to do it in this chapter too (yey) but I find that I can't do it too often or it just bogs everything down.
I really really just couldn't wait to reveal Hermione's switch (the main reason for the speediness of the update), but I must admit, I've left her out of the present story b/c I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with her, unlike my plans with Draco. But she's not as big a character as Draco.
When I originally planned this story he was going to actually betray them, but I scrapped that pretty quickly b/c the rest of the love story just wouldn't have been realistic at all, and I actually think it's a lot better this way. It'll make them stronger…always a good thing ).
I don't think I can say enough times how much I truly value and look forward to reading what you have to say after each chapter. When I start getting doubts as to whether my work is actually good enough and I should even bother writing more I go back to your reviews and then I'm all ready to write again. Thank you so much.
Adieu
CelticGoddess81 Even I don't know if Hermione has truly changed sides or not…well she has at the moment, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with her…that's like the only thing fairly important that's still up in the air. I told you who the mystery blanket man is! hears grumbles of "about time" from readers and smiles sheepishly But now I've got another mystery person for you…Ginny will be all over finding clues on this one though so it won't be a total mystery. Flattery does get you everywhere…and I updated quickly. You really have no idea how much it means to me to hear that you think my story is original and refreshing! Thank you so much!
Dukerbrown I told you who he is! I told you who he is! D Thank you for saying I update quickly, not many people realize how much work actually goes into these chapters to make them turn out the way they do and to get them out quickly too. Oh yes, Draco/Ginny love action is a must! (esp with this charming new development of her being trapped in his room) So you will NOT be disappointed there! Thank you for still reading and still liking…and for still reviewing!
Rainpuddle I'm so glad to hear that you think Draco and Ginny are in character…always my main concern to achieve that. Dynamic and combustible are very strong words. I like to hear those when referring to a relationship I'm spinning; it's so much better than hearing mushy and predictable. Thanks ) I felt bad about having Harry's heroism backfire (esp so soon after the Sirius thing) but it needed to happen. And Ron being Ron did actually work this time, although I'm glad no one pointed out that a trained auror probably wouldn't freeze up grins. Thanks for reviewing!
Aravaeya Well, you already know how I feel about your fic, so keep up the great work! ) If I'd had Draco let Ginny go then they wouldn't get to share his room D, so I let Ron go instead. Harry's new nickname for Ginny (Gingersnap) is an idea I borrowed from you (though I think Gin-bug is cuter and has probably never been used before as I'm sure Gingersnap has), I hope you don't mind. Anyways, You keep up your good work and I'll keep up mine. D Thanks for your reviews, I really appreciate them.
TrinitYMalfoY527 I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! Well…not too sorry or I might have changed it. The letter writer COULD be a lot of people…as you yourself listed ) Ginny will get to the bottom of this I promise! Why else indeed would Voldemort keep taking Hermione? I thought I was a bit too candid on that part, but I still fooled a bunch of people! Sorry that the blanket man isn't Ron, but it's also not Draco. Harry didn't really like Crookshanks either. I didn't want to make the password something someone could guess, so I pulled a Da Vinci and made it backwards! And I really do hope you keep reviewing as long as I keep posting! )
Emerald Earth Hermione is evil (at the moment) and Draco isn't. I like it! Denial is alright, I'm still in denial over Sirius kicking it, personally. Anyways, I can't say either way in regards to Hermione, and for once it's because I myself don't know, not b/c I don't want to say. Flames are okay, as long as they are constructive and this one is actually helpful…and not really a flame at all as you said. I would have probably cried if you'd written something like, "You suck! I'm printing your story and then burning it!" I'm sorry you feel betrayed, but all I can say is that the story isn't over yet.