Disclaimer: As much as I'd like to take credit for the creation of Dracoa and his gang, I don't have enough money to fight JKR in court. So let's give her all the credit. Anyway, Trey and Ivanne are mine.
A/N: My 26th chapter and I still don't how to end this. Maybe that reviewer Angie was right, this is just a draft. But it makes my day to see that even with the crappy, draft-ish writing I still have 94 reviews! Wow! Thank you guys! Anyway, I've had in mind to ask around for a betareader. But I couldn't make my mind up because I'm not really sure how this would work out. But then Angie (the reviewer) told I should look for one and I'm taking up her advice. Anyone interested? Although I think that it'll be better if I look for a beta for my next fic because this one's already more than halfway through. Also, thanks for the critique Angie! I'm not really good at handling criticism, I must say I was ready to just delete this fic from the net when I read your review, but then again, I won't be getting much better at writing it if and when I do that. Thanks again!
Chapter 26 – Stuck Here
Ginny wondered why Draco was so tense beside her. She received an owl last night from Hermione saying they were all invited for an after-Christmas breakfast in her house and curiosity ran between her, Harry and Luna the night they had opened the letter. They had been in front of the fireplace, playing cards with the twins, trying to look as if they weren't part of some mission to defy one of the strongest Death Eater that night. Or make that two.
Harry was fidgeting with his cards all night. And both Luna and Ginny knew the boy couldn't stand to be out of action. The twins had noticed his fidgety hands and asked Harry to go get Luna inside a room if he's just too turned on to play. Harry glared at the two and made an effort to still his hands, grumbling that the twins would never understand. The twins only cracked up more and in the end, Ginny shooed them out of the room, threatening to jinx them with the hexes she'd learn from the twins themselves.
That was when Hermione's owl had swooped in and sat on Luna's shoulder. After taking the envelope and giving the owl a soft pat, Luna motioned for the owl to go and it flew away.
"It's from Hermione." Luna said simply.
Ginny refused the urge to roll her eyes and say that they already knew that since it was Hermione's owl that delivered it and said, "What does it say Luna?"
Luna scanned the note quickly, sensing Ginny's urgency and Harry's excitement. "It says Draco has found the heart." She said in a soft whisper.
"Really?" Ginny jumped up excitedly at the same time as Harry said: "Whose heart?"
"Yes, really." Luna answered. "But it doesn't say whose heart it was Harry." Luna said sadly.
"Who cares?" Ginny smiled and jumped up and down again. "That's great! Now we'll just have to find the other and…"
"Wait Gin." Harry said, now holding the note. As she looked at him more closely, she saw that the boy was holding on two pieces of paper.
"What does the other say?" Ginny asked, taking a step towards the couple, not liking Harry's expression at all.
"I think you better read it for yourself." Harry handed over her the notes and he and Luna stood around, holding hands while she read it. The couple looked at Ginny's face as she turned from curious to alarmed to extremely worried. "Are you alright?" Harry asked when she had finished reading the notes.
The note had went on to say that Draco found the heart but it was in a place hard enough to get and deep planning is needed in order to get it. Hermione instructed Ginny to go show the second note to her mother and ask for permission to go to Muggle London to spend breakfast with them. When Ginny scanned the second note, it looked safe enough, asking Molly Weasley if she would let the other three go to Hermione's house for breakfast. It was an innocent note, unlike the first one.
Ginny looked up from the notes and nodded. "What do you suppose this note is all about?"
Now, inside Hermione's house, sitting beside Draco, she both anticipated and feared whatever it was that she would find out. Draco looked like he hadn't slept all night. He kept running his hands through his hair. When she had arrived early that morning, Draco and Blaise were already there, both looking like every bit the aristocrat that they are in terms of clothes. But both had tired expressions on their faces. Ron, Hermione, Trey, Ivanne and Celine were also dressed and sporting the same look. Draco looked up when she arrived inside the living room, smiled at her and enveloped her in a hug before kissing her lightly on the lips. After a round of rather forced greetings, they had all settled down and the others waited for the seven to speak up.
Ginny was holding on to Draco's hand, their fingers intertwined in that lover-like fashion and rested on his knee while his other hand was busy toying with his hair. Blaise and Celine, who sat on the other long sofa, had their arms around each other, speaking in soft tones. Ron and Hermione were just sitting, with Hermione's head on Ron's shoulder. Colin and Daphne were sitting cross legged on the floor, both looking curiously at everyone else to speak up. Trey and Ivanne weren't sitting beside each other, Trey was on the arm of the sofa where Ron was sitting and Ivanne was on the floor with Colin and Daphne. Harry and Luna was beside her and Draco and she could feel the tension and anticipation from Harry.
She was about to ask what is going on but Colin beat her to it.
"Well, don't we have something to discuss?" Colin asked impatiently.
Draco's head snapped up and he glared at Colin. Blaise and Celine's lips each formed a thin line. Hermione sighed. "Might as well get it over with."
"Get over with what?" Harry asked.
Draco's shoulders went up then down, a sigh escaping from his lips. "My heart, we know where it is." He said.
Harry's, Luna's, Ginny's, Colin's and Daphne's heads all whipped in his direction and Ginny hugged him. "That's great Draco!" she said. She could feel Draco melt with her, something that usually made her smile and kiss him but tonight his melting almost felt like a break down. "Draco?"
Draco's eyes were dark but he smiled at her. "No, love. It's not great." He told her. "This is a problem."
He proceeded to tell them about how last night turned out and how he had figured out where his heart was. Blaise also told them how he and Draco found out about the ring Pedro Zabini always keeps by on his hand and how they guessed that Blaise's heart was there. The two had looked and thought of possibilities where Blaise's Sadicrium heart would be. When a lady had presented herself to Blaise's father and kissed his hand during a curtsy, Blaise was nearby and had to keep himself from jumping his father and getting the heart. It was there, as one of the jewels in that big and ridiculous ring, being kissed by the woman.
They obviously had to do something to the two wizards for them to leave the two items with the Sadicrium hearts alone. It was nearing noon when they had hit on a plan. But it wasn't pretty. It included getting the two naked.
It was, surprise-surprise, Hermione who had thought of it and everyone had been against it. But after an hour and a half of not having a plan come to mind, they had all admitted that only Hermione's plan could work, knowing how lustful the two wizards were.
Two would have to play whores, while four would get to be invisible guards to ensure the safety of whoever plays the whore. Draco and Blaise were sure their fathers would drop their defenses down on the sight of free sex slaves and agreed on it. The only problem was who gets to play them?
Ginny knew this was hers and Draco's problem. It was just right that she do the role of one of the whores and she told the group so. It elicited yells from both Ron and Draco.
"No way Gin!" said Ron. She could see her brother begin to turn red and angry. "You are not going to do it! Draco talk to her!"
"Listen to your brother, Ginny." Said Draco. Ginny would have laughed when she realized that Ron and Draco were ganging up on her, but it was far too serious a moment to have her fun.
"This is our problem Draco, not theirs…" she started reasoning.
"My problem, Gin. Damnit, don't do this!" Draco snapped at her.
Ginny understood that Draco was only concerned for her but her mind was made up. She shook her head. "No, Draco. We all know I'm fit for this role…"
"What because you took up classes for whore role-playing?"
Everyone was shocked at Draco's remark and watched as Ginny's face turn bright red.
"What?" she spat.
"Damn, Gin. I didn't mean it that way…" Draco apologized. "Just…please don't do this to me." He almost whispered.
Ginny gazed lovingly at her boyfriend. She knew this was hard for him. But she felt so responsible for everything that everyone's been going through right now, and the least she could do was to take the role up. "I know you're concerned about me Drake, and I love you for it, but I've made up my mind…"
"Concerned? I'm not fucking concerned Gin! I fucking scared for you!" he spat before he left the room.
Ginny sighed then pushed herself off the sofa where she had just been cuddling with her boyfriend a moment ago. She then followed Draco outside the living room.
"So…" Colin attempted to start a conversation. "I guess, Hermione's plan won't be continued?" To tell the truth, he didn't want to go with the plan Hermione concocted with that amazing brain of hers. He was afraid Daphne would volunteer too. He wasn't up with endangering Daphne as Draco is to Ginny, so he can understand Draco's behavior.
Blaise was shaking his head. "I know it's a pretty risky plan, but we've spent almost half a day and we still haven't got anything more brilliant than Hermione's." he said. "I say we boys just go and drink Polyjuices." He said.
This time, it was Hermione who shook her head. "No, that's not a good idea, Blaise. You are guys, and you can't act like girls over night and be good at it. Besides, your fathers are bound to know something was up if you act so awkwardly."
"Are you saying Ginny would do a perfect job of being a whore, Hermione?" Ron said viciously.
"What? No Ron! I just thought us girls would act more naturally than you guys." She said.
Blaise sighed. "Our fathers are adept Legilimenses. If they would read…"
"Not to worry!" Hermione jumped in. "You know how Tom Riddle invaded Ginny's mind back in second year right?"
Blaise and the others nodded. "Yeah, so?"
"Well, since then, Dumbledore and Kingsley Shacklebot has been tutoring Ginny on perfecting Occlumency so that Tom won't be going in and out of her mind again."
Blaise turned to Harry and Ron and both nodded hesitantly.
"So I suppose you also know how to do Occlumency, Granger?" Blaise told the girl.
Hermione's face fell. "No." she whispered.
"No?" Blaise cried out. "But…" he sighed, calming himself down. "We can't let Ginny do the other one too. Draco would kill."
A tiny, but determined voice rose from the silence that followed.
"I'll do it."
Everybody turned to face Ivanne Castle. She had been quiet all morning so it was easy for the others to forget that she was there.
"Castle?" Blaise recovered first. "Are you sure?"
The girl nodded.
"Do you know how to do Occlumency?" asked Blaise.
The girl nodded again. "I learned with Ginny. I convinced them to give me lessons as well." She smiled sheepishly.
Blaise nodded. "That okay with you Goodhouse?" he turned to face Trey, who had a blank expression on his face. Although he knew the boy was just controlling his emotions. Draco and himself were masters of the skill themselves.
"She can bloody well do whatever she bloody wants." The guy asked and Blaise heard a silent intake of breath from Ivanne's side. He sighed.
"It's settled then." Blaise said. "Ivanne would have to go to Lucius', since it would be best for Ginny to not be in the same room as Draco's father. I'd bet Draco won't be very happy to see Ginny flirting with Lucius."
Everyone nodded.
"I have some Polyjuice potion in store for the two of them. It'll only last several hours so we'll have to hurry the operation." Hermione said. "It would be best if they're not recognized by anyone."
"I also think it would be best if Draco would guard Ivanne instead of Ginny." Harry said. When met by curious glances and stares of 'Are you crazy?', he explained. "We can't risk anything in here. We only have one shot at this you guys. I don't think Draco would just stand there and do nothing if and when he sees Pedro Zabini grope his girlfriend."
Blaise nodded in understanding. He would kill if it was Celine in Ginny's place. "And I guess Ron wouldn't be there too?"
Ron was starting to spurt nonsense but Hermione held his hand and assure her boyfriend that everything would be okay.
So they had come up with plan, not a perfectly brilliant one, but one that could possibly make them achieve their means:
Ivanne would play Draco's 'girlfriend' and her story would be that she had 'lost' her way around the house to find the kitchens and would end up wherever Lucius was. Narcissa was supposed to be visiting friends in France so it was a pretty convenient time for everyone to hatch the plan. Harry and Ron would drink disillusionment charms and follow Ivanne around to oversee her protection and get the cane while Lucius was preoccupied, and Daphne and Celine, also invisible, would cast an undetectable protection spell around the group as they move along the plan. After the cane was in their hands, Harry would signal Draco via the coins and he would knock on the door and stop Lucius.
Ginny and her group would do the same with Blaise taking up Draco's role, Trey and Colin for Harry and Ron's, and Luna and Hermione for Daphne and Celine's. The plans were going to be done simultaneously and hopefully, before Lucius and Pedro notice anything, they were gone and would be in the woods near the Burrow to destroy the hearts.
After the planning, the group stayed silent, clutching their partners in a strained atmosphere. Draco and Ginny weren't back still and they could only hope the two had made up.
It was understandable that Draco would get angry at her, seeing that she'll be putting herself in a lot of danger and not to mention sexual harassment. But she needed to do it. She desperately wanted to do her part to help Draco.
She found Draco sitting by the first steps of the stairs, looking old and weary. Her heart felt for the boy, he was terrified and those gray eyes that looked up at her when she called his name were dark with fear. She sat beside him and hugged him.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
Draco didn't move, but he softened with her touch. For a while no one said a word then Draco said softly, "Are you sure it's the right thing to do?"
Ginny nodded. "Yes. I'm not so fragile, you know." She said, trying to lighten up the mood.
"I know." Draco raked his hand through his hair. "It's just that…" he trailed off.
"Shh…" Ginny stopped him. "Don't blame yourself. No one wants this to happen, no one. It wasn't your fault, love. But this thing, we can't changed this. It happened and we have to get over this together. Don't hog the problem Draco." She squeezed him tighter, hoping to get the message across to him that he's not alone in this one. "Whatever you're feeling, I want to share it with you. Whatever problems you face, we'll face them all together. When you said you loved me, you became a part of me. Even without the words, you'll be a part of me. So don't shun me out of this love. Please."
Draco was silent for a while. Ginny's words settled in his heart. He was used to having everything to himself, he wasn't any good with sharing, be it toys, or anything. He was generous with money he could admit that, but he was selfish when it comes to things he valued. He also didn't know how to tell someone a problem so it was very hard for him to tell Ginny. But what she said made sense. If this relationship was going to work, they would have to be open to each other.
He hugged her back.
"Just promise me you'll take care of yourself." He said to her. His voice was full of emotions.
"Of course love." Ginny said. "I plan on spending loads of time with you honey, not even Lucius can stop me from doing just that." And she kissed him fiercely.
A/N: Ooh! What a hard chapter to write. But still, I updated. I admit I was a bit discouraged at that bit of review I was talking about, but I guess you can't please everyone and I know this wasn't the best fic ever. But I'm still glad that you guys are there to read this one. It's my first fic, and I really appreciate that you guys take time to favorite me and review this.
I just finished a long one-shot for Draco and Ginny. It's with my beta (yes, I got me a beta for this one-shot) already and am just waiting for her to finish checking it. I hope you guys would show it the same love as you did this fic.
Love you all guys! Toodles!