This chapter is dedicated to Fish, because it was her 16th birthday yesterday and her support and patience in listening to random plot ideas though French have been a great help. Love you lots Fish xxxx
And of course, another big thank you to everyone who has been reviewing the story, the support has been really helpful : )
Hope you enjoy the chapter, please R and R : )
It was only when the sky was turning considerably lighter that Ginny admitted defeat and tried to stand, her legs stiff and creaking after a long night kneeling in the chilly corridor. She rubbed a hand across her eyes, yawning wide and catching sight of herself in the window pane, grimaced.
Her face was pale and pinched, dark bags marked the skin below her eyes, which were themselves small with sleep deprivation. Her hair hung in bushy tangles around her shoulders, and there was a crease on her left cheek where she had been leaning against the wall all night.
Ruefully, she reflected that perhaps it was for the best that Blaise hadn't returned because she looked so tired. But there was still a knot of regret that lay coiled in her stomach, all through getting ready for the day and breakfast.
Even when she received sympathetic hugs from Hermione, and Ron gave her his last chocolate frog and a brotherly kiss on the forehead, especially when Harry barged into the space next to her on a bench and insisted on topping up her glass even though it was full. She watched the ensuing trickle of amber liquid pool about the glass bottom, and sighed.
*Blaise*
As we drew nearer to Hogwarts, I considered again and again the possibility of running away to warn them. But Malfoy was right beside me every step of the way, twisting his wand round and round in his hands in palpable anxiety.
The silent figures of the Death Eaters about us melted through the trees like ghosts, the tawny fingers of dawn not reaching us through the heavy foliage above.
The mere thought of what I was about to do was almost enough to keep me rooted to the spot, or at least turn around and demand that this madness stop. But I'm ashamed to say that my fear of the ominous presence behind me, and my selfish fear for my own pathetic skin prevented me.
My brain seemed to have shut down; numbness was spreading through my body like poison from a snake bite. I felt suddenly very small, and young and vulnerable; I even caught myself wondering why I couldn't just be at home with my mother, or even better curled up in front of a fire with Ginny.
What was I about to do?
How in hells name did this happen to me?
*Ginny*
Something was happening, Firenze, who usually ate outside, had just cantered up to the table and was engaged with urgent conversation with Dumbledore. This lasted for several minutes, during which the Hall fell silent as every student craned forward in a vain bid to hear what was being said.
Even Harry was silent, and instead sat upright, light glinting off his spectacles. He suddenly looked older, there was a line across his forehead and his eyes had turned a vivid green as his expression darkened.
Ginny realised something serious had happened, and a sick feeling lead her to believe that it had something to do with Blaise's disappearance last night. Her suspicions were confirmed when Dumbledore stood a moment later, his voluminous violet sleeves hiding his hands, and addressed the school, his tone grave.
"Firenze has just reported to me sightings of Death Eaters in the Forbidden Forest," Ginny gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Harry's hand on the table next to her clenched into a fist, and he looked swiftly over at Ron and Hermione. The three of them exchanged looks before getting up and leaving the Hall.
"I want everyone to remain calm," Dumbledore raised his voice over the buzz that had ensued. Heads flicked as one towards the front of the Hall, desperate for some reassurance.
"Prefects, will you please lead the students to the Room of Requirement and through the passage to the pub where my brother will be waiting to help them get away. I will not accept anybody below the age of 17 years old remaining to fight, will you please all stay calm and follow your prefects. "
As the Hall emptied of most of the students, Ginny stepped backwards from the table, desperate to find a way of remaining behind.
She had to find Blaise.
*Blaise*
It's still fairly early, I can imagine everyone gathered about the tables, having breakfast and completely unaware of the hell we are about to unleash.
I have to find Ginny, if I can just get to her first, ahead of anyone else...
Malfoy and I have discussed this, he said he promise he would not interfere as long as I left him alone to find Hermione. There was a new, and fierce determination shining in his eyes, he was almost unrecognisable.
We stopped, the Dark Lord wished to speak with his faithful murderers.
"I am aware of course that one of our number has a rather special relationship with an inferior."
Oh shit.
"Zabini, I know of course that this blood traitor whore must have bewitched you, you have my utmost sympathy. "
Like fuck I do.
"To prove to your Lord and Master that you are completely free from her spell, I wish to see you eliminate her foul presence for this earth,"
...I'm hearing wrong,
This is all a bad dream...
This is not happening to me...
"If this proves impossible for you, I will have to eliminate the entire student body of Hogwarts, including the teachers and I imagine most of your friends. How regrettable, I was willing to just take Potter, and the Weasly child as an example to her family's heinous ways, and leave the school in peace. But if your actions force me to act otherwise..."
"No!"
He leant forward, and a chill crept through me.
"If that blood traitor is not dead at my feet, I will slaughter the entire school. Think about it, the first years, away from home for the first time, the seventh years with a bright new future ahead of them."
His voice was sneering, every word striking thin shards of ice in to my soul.
"Never to see their families again because of you, you, Blaise Zabini will have been entirely responsible for the biggest massacre in cold blood in this country's history. And, I will kill the girl in front of you, just to teach you a lesson."
"So, show a little mercy, or you know the price. Of course, I think the girl has family at the school, and friends of her own. Maybe she will die nobly, protecting them."
I would rather die myself...
Malfoy, you will pay for this.