Chapter 24 : Ginny's Spell
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Breakfast was a subdued affair. Tinky had produced yet another great breakfast, but nobody really noticed what they were eating. Nobody had anything new to add to the discarded list of ideas from the night before and their initial sense of excitement had faded, leaving them feeling despondent and vaguely disappointed.
"This is ridiculous. Let's go flying after breakfast," Blaise suggested suddenly. "Maybe some fresh air will help."
Draco watched Ginny carefully as they ate. Her eyes followed Blaise's every move, but she was obviously miles away. She buttered her toast, put her knife down, picked it up and buttered her toast again.
"Everything alright, Weasley?" he asked her eventually.
She pulled her eyes away from Blaise. "Not for me, thanks," she responded.
Draco sighed. He cleared his throat and when he caught Hermione's eye, he jerked his chin in the direction of the kitchen. She stood hesitantly, not sure of where he was going with this.
"Um.. I think I will just make some tea?" she said slowly.
Draco nodded. "Good idea," he said. "I'm sure Red would like to give you a hand."
Hermione went along with him. "Yes, please can you, Gin?"
As soon as the two wizards were alone, Draco leaned towards Blaise. "Zabini, this can't continue. You're driving her crazy, man!"
Blaise calmly sipped his juice before responding. "I don't know what you mean."
Draco flushed with annoyance. "You fucking do! Do you see what you're doing to her? What are you waiting for?"
Blaise rolled his eyes. "You're a fine one to talk, Malfoy. I told you I don't want to complicate her life. So drop it."
Draco shook his head. "You imagine that taking her with you to Lyngvi, asking her to risk her life, is not complicated?"
"It's different."
"It isn't! She can't keep track of whether or not she's buttered her toast and you think she's going to master occlumency? She is so fucking distracted because of you that she will get us all killed."
"I said drop it." He seemed less adamant though. "Anyway Ginny doesn't like sappy romantic gestures."
"Well then don't make any!" He threw his hands up in irritation. "Merlin, look what you've reduced me to, Blaise! Passing love notes during class!"
He sat back in his chair and glared at his friend. "We are already way beyond complicated so stop making excuses. You need to resolve this, one way or another, because it will affect us all. So do what you need to do to get her head back in the game, or tell her she will stay in England when we leave here."
Blaise scowled, but was silent for a long moment. "Fine. I will then." He stood and marched purposefully towards the kitchen.
Draco sighed. Typical. He says nothing until he nearly drives them both mad, then decides to tell her while she's making tea. Well at least nobody can accuse him of making a romantic gesture.
"Ginny."
The two girls, busy with cups, turned at the sound of Blaise's voice.
"Yes? You want tea?" Ginny asked.
"No. Well yes. But that's not why I'm here."
"Ok." She waited. "Well?"
He walked slowly over to her, took the cup from her hand and placed it carefully on the counter. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her gravely.
Hermione glanced at the doorway, where Draco had appeared. He signalled for her to join him. She was half way across the room when Blaise spoke.
"I am in love with you. I'm sorry, but I can't help it, Ginny. I know we agreed to keep it purely physical, and I have tried, but I can't anymore. I love you." He spoke as though he was breaking bad news to her.
Draco took Hermione's hand and led her out of the kitchen.
"So that's what you were up to," Hermione laughed. "You worked really fast though. Did you actually chase him from the room?"
"I gave him an ultimatum.'
"Well I'm glad it worked." She sat and bit in to her muffin and then paused. "Did you really want tea?" she said. "Shall I nip back in and get it?"
Draco shook his head and reached for the marmalade. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said. "You might not be able to unsee what's probably going on in there."
Hermione looked toward the kitchen. It was suspiciously quiet.
"Shouldn't take long if I know anything about those two," Draco continued. "I'm sure they'll join us soon. Eat your breakfast."
They ate their breakfast and, as Draco had predicted, Blaise and Ginny emerged from the kitchen a short while later.
Draco glanced at Blaise and saw from his friend's face that his announcement must have been well received. "So are we going flying?" he asked.
"Yes, let's." Ginny's whole face was alight with joy. "Walk with us, Mione."
Draco stood. "Ok, then. Let's go. We have work to do when we get back." He headed to the door. "Your shirt is inside out," he pointed out as he passed Ginny.
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Surprisingly, Hermione agreed to go down with them, and they made their way to the field. The air was cool and fresh and the sky a palette of blues, pinks and yellows.
Ginny, Blaise and Draco accio'd themselves a broom each. They had begun to mount up when Hermione put one hand on Draco's arm. "Wait," she said hesitantly. He stopped, eyeing her quizzically.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied. "I was just wondering.."
"Wondering..?"
"I'd like to fly too," she stated. "But I can't fly like you all can. So -"
They all grinned at her.
"That's ok, Granger," Draco said. "I will keep with you." He was smiling broadly. "You guys go ahead, we'll catch up," he said to Blaise.
As the two flew off into the morning sky, Draco turned back to Hermione with a smile.
"Why the sudden change of heart, Granger? I thought you didn't want to fly again any time soon, Not that I'm not delighted, but it's quite a surprise."
She returned his smile. "Well I seem to find myself in love with a wizard who loves to fly. And I want to be able to share that with him. Just remember that I'm not a good flier yet, so -"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to his chest and held her tightly. She laughed.
"Do you want to fly tandem with me again today? You can fly solo when you are more confident."
"That's a good idea!" she said, relieved.
"Ok then. Sit behind me this time, and hold my waist. Would you like to fly over the lake again?"
She shook her head. "No, take me over the Forest today instead."
He couldn't stop grinning. He loved that she wanted to experience something he enjoyed so much. When she was comfortable behind him, her arms firmly around his waist, he lifted up slowly and flew in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
As they flew over the treetops, she marvelled at the textures and the vivid greens and blues of the forest below them. Her experience of the Forest had always been dark and gloomy because she had only ever walked through it. Now she was looking at it from above, softly caressed by the early morning sunlight.
Suddenly Draco tapped her hand and pointed. "Look!" he cried. She looked where he was pointing and gasped. Below them a small herd of young unicorns gambolled in a clearing in the trees.
"Oh Draco! Can we go lower?" she asked him eagerly.
"Yes, we can get a little closer, but not much." He pushed down on the front of the broom and they descended. When they were as close as they dared, Draco steadied the broom and they hovered over the herd.
Hermione was completely entranced. She obviously knew that there were unicorns in the Forest, and it stood to reason that there would be young ones. But she had never actually seen a foal except in pictures. The herds were fiercely protective of their young. Hagrid was probably one of the few wizards who were trusted enough to get close to them.
They watched for a few minutes. Hermione sighed in disappointment when they disappeared among the trees and Draco began to ascend slowly once again.
She hugged him tightly. "I know you're absolutely dying to zoom off into the sky. So go for it. I promise not to shriek and fall off. Just give me fair warning."
He laughed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Go on then."
"Ok. Hold on!"
She grabbed him as they accelerated suddenly, and squeezed her eyes tightly shut and pressed her face against his back. She heard Draco laugh.
"Open your eyes, Granger. You're holding me so tight there's not a chance you will fall. And even if you do, I'm perfectly capable of saving you."
She opened her eyes but kept close. In the distance she heard the whoops and shouts of Blaise and Ginny. Draco caught up to them quickly and positioned his broom between them. They flew a wide arc over the water, the air cool and bracing. Hermione relaxed enough to loosen her grip on Draco and look at the joyful faces of Ginny and Blaise. Ginny's blazing hair streamed out behind her as they flew, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. Blaise was leaning forward over his broom, elation all over his face.
"Hold on, Granger!" Draco yelled. Then, unbelievably, they sped up, dipping and swooping in tandem, their gleeful shouts ringing out into the sky. Hermione's heart thumped in her chest and she shrieked in delicious fear.
And then they were slowing down, laughing and breathless, and touched down where they had started.
"That was great fun!" Ginny exclaimed. "Where did you take her, Malfoy?"
"Over the Forest." He smiled at Hermione. "So did you enjoy it?"
"Oh Ginny, we saw a herd of unicorn babies! They were so beautiful!" She turned to Draco, her eyes sparkling. "Apart from having my heart in my throat on the way back, I am amazed to say that I did enjoy it."
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They were in high spirits as they made their way back. They decided not to head back inside but took a walk through the gardens to the rose garden where they sat in the pergola. The heady scent of the roses on the crisp bright air soothed and simultaneously refreshed their thoughts.
Blaise pulled Ginny to him and they kissed, neither of them could stop grinning as they embraced.
Draco gave them a minute before he interrupted, "Ok, let's focus." His voice was firm. "We are running out of time. What reason could you have to switch sides? How can the light possibly hurt you?"
They quietly gathered their thoughts and silently ran through the possibilities.
Then Blaise leaned forward suddenly. "Not the light," he said.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
Draco leaned forward with interest. Blaise had always been a quiet strategist. His ability to weave a plan had been well known among his fellow Slytherins.
He continued. "It wouldn't be the light per se that betrays you. That doesn't make sense. It would be the Ministry."
They stared at him. A grin slowly spread over Ginny's face.
Hermione's eyes cleared with sudden understanding.
She suddenly sat up straight and then turned to Draco. "Do you remember when Harry told me about how you contacted him about my parents because you didn't trust anyone?"
Draco nodded. A faint glimmer of hope stirred in his chest as he recognised the now familiar look of resolute determination on the faces of the two witches. They were obviously on to something.
"You told him not to trust even the Ministry - especially the Ministry. You suspected someone in the Ministry of leading the Force to my parents in Australia."
Draco looked at Blaise.
"Yes, we did at the time. But it was just a suspicion." Draco said slowly. His mind was reaching in the same direction as hers though.
"What if you were right and Mione found out?" Ginny asked.
They looked at her in silence.
"That would give me a reason to be very angry," Hermione voiced what they were all thinking.
"More than anger, Mione. You would feel betrayed. Deeply hurt. Enraged."
Blaise nodded, his eyes intense. "Would it be enough to cause you to switch sides though? Most of our world knows about your role in his downfall. Would they believe a defection after everything you sacrificed?"
"But that's just it, Zabini." Draco was now leaning forward eagerly. "Maybe it's exactly because she sacrificed so much that the betrayal would make her hate them."
"It might not be enough on its own to make me change sides," she agreed quietly. "But theoretically, it would definitely make me vulnerable to an approach." She looked over at Ginny. "And my best friend would feel my pain." Ginny nodded. That much was already obvious to anyone who knew them.
"There are loads of reasons why the plan wouldn't fly as it is right now, but I think we have something we can work with," Ginny stood and began to pace. "As far as they know, what are you two supposed to be doing right now?" she asked, looking at first Blaise and then Draco.
"It needs a lot of work, but it would fit, Drake," Blaise said. Then he looked up at the pacing Ginny. "They think we have attended the ball as a cover to recruit new members."
Hermione sighed in relief. "Then you need to persuade them that's exactly what you've done."
Ginny sat and they began in earnest.
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Several hours later they had the basic rudiments of a plan. As Draco had pointed out the previous evening, the plan would hinge on the creation of context. It would also require the cooperation of several other key players, but they were confident that that part would be accomplished relatively easily.
They stopped for a light lunch and then made their way down to the Lake, where they worked on perfecting the skills they had been working on thus far.
An hour later, as the electrical crackle of magic hovered thickly in the air, Tinky appeared with a pitcher of mountain water and four glasses. They accepted gratefully and the elf bowed and smiled and popped out.
As they sipped the water, Ginny cleared her throat.
"Blaise, I've had this idea in my head for a little while but I couldn't seem to make it work. But I think I've finally figured it out so I want to try it out if that's ok with you," she said.
Blaise lifted an eyebrow in mock surprise. "And since when did you ask my permission for anything, Ginny?"
"Since right now, smarty pants." She frowned. "And only because I will need your cooperation, so don't think this is the start of a whole new subservient me."
He grinned at her. If Ginny were to suddenly turn docile nobody would hate it more than Blaise, and she was perfectly aware of that.
"Ok, what's your idea?"
"Let me try first, and then if it works I will explain," she said firmly. She put down her glass and walked a short distance away. Then she turned to Draco. "You need to move away from Mione," she instructed. "Go and stand over there." She pointed to a spot some distance away.
They all put down their glasses and Draco walked over to stand where Ginny had indicated. Blaise and Hermione watched with interest.
She explained. "I've been trying to think of a way to use what you've taught me to weave defensive spells. Yes, I know the whole point has been to teach me to use attack spells, but defence is just as important as attack. When you're in battle you aren't always aware of where the danger is and you can't attack something you don't know is there."
They all nodded.
"Anyway what I have in mind is more of a defensive attack spell, if that makes sense?"
"No, it doesn't yet, so show me."
She swallowed. "Alright, throw one of those cones at me."
He stepped forward.
The missile flew through the air seemingly without the slightest effort on his part. Then without warning, the cone suddenly seemed to bounce off an invisible barrier, changed direction and hurtled back at Draco. His eyes widened in surprise, but he focused and the cone stopped dead just in front of his face and then fell harmlessly at his feet.
"Bloody hell, Red! Give a man some warning!" he exclaimed.
"You wouldn't get a warning in a real situation, Ferret."
She looked over at Blaise, who was watching her with a mixture of pride and awe. He had no idea what she had just done. He certainly hadn't taught her anything like this. "Your turn. Cast something else," she instructed. "I want to see if it works with other types of spells. This time something that I can't see coming."
Blaise focused. A second later he was lifted into the air and flung back several metres, landing on his back with a grunt. He caught his breath and sat up. They all stared at her.
"How did you do that, Ginevra?" he cried. "You couldn't have known what or when I was going to cast, so how did you manage to cast it at me?"
She laughed delightedly. "It works!" she yelled. "Do it again just to be sure!" she looked over at Draco and Hermione. "Have a go!" she invited.
"Allow me," Draco muttered. He waited. He would cast it when she wasn't expecting it and he would ensure that his body language didn't give him away either. He waited a full thirty seconds, his face giving nothing away. She waited, grinning at him.
Suddenly there was a loud 'crack!' and Draco was lifted and suspended upside down in mid-air. He muttered something under his breath and as the spell ended he fell to the ground, where he landed on his back with a loud "Ooof!"
Ginny whooped with glee.
Draco stood and frowned at her, touching his ribs to see whether anything was broken. He started walking towards her with grim purpose. Her laughter disappeared and her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't flinch. Within seconds he was standing directly in front of her, glaring at her, still trying to catch his breath. Blaise and Hermione joined him within moments, eyeing him anxiously.
"That was bloody awesome, and you had better tell me what it is and how to do it or so help me, Weasley, I will put you over my bloody knee." Draco's tone was serious, but his eyes danced.
Blaise was still rubbing his hip tenderly. "That goes for me too, Ginny. And you don't want to be on the harsh end of two Slytherins. Now spill!"
"Yes, Gin. You need to teach us to do whatever that was. How long have you been keeping that up your sleeve?"
Ginny's whoops echoed across the water. "It works!" she shouted. She threw several air punches and did a short victory dance.
"I'm warning you, Ginevra." Blaise said, amused. "Explain, or I will forbid Draco from ever taking you over his knee."
Hermione burst out laughing and Draco smirked as Ginny glanced quickly at Draco and then at Hermione.
"Don't worry, Gin, I am perfectly aware that you'd love to find yourself over Draco's knee. So you'd better explain or I will forbid it too."
The redhead beamed proudly. "It's a spell I've been working on for a couple of weeks, but I just couldn't seem to get it to work until now. It acts as a shield that not only stops an attack spell, but magnifies its intensity and immediately sends it back to its caster. I call it Ritorno Incantatem. The beauty of it is that you can cast it ahead of time. And apparently it only bounces back at the caster. Which means that nobody else could get hurt accidentally."
They stared at her, impressed.
Draco spoke first. "Wow. It's genius. It can change the outcome of a battle. What's the downside?"
Ginny hesitated. "Well, I don't know if it works with all spells, and I don't know exactly how long it lasts. It involves three consecutive incantations that must be made while the caster is in a calm state, so it can't be cast in a hurry. And I have no idea how it will perform under the influence of extreme negative emotion on the part of the caster. Fear or anger, for example. It may be weakened or it may be strengthened. I haven't been able to test it under those conditions. I will teach it to you all, of course, now that I know it works."
Blaise pulled her into a sudden fierce hug. Then he released her and grinned at Draco and Hermione, who were smiling broadly. "I taught her everything she knows," he stated pompously, and was rewarded with a sharp smack to the back of the head.
"Do I need to remind you that I was already an accomplished Spell Weaver before any of this started?" Ginny exclaimed indignantly. "Now take that back before I really hurt you!"
The dark eyes flashed. "I take it back, I take it back!" he laughed. "And as a reward for being awesome, you have my approval for Draco to take you over his knee any time."
They all sniggered as Ginny grinned and licked her lips.
"Now teach us, you pervy wench," Draco demanded.
She did.