AN: Waaa! Haha I'm updating again! I promised a friend that I would finish this story before I graduate and hopefully I'll graduate next year. Please pray for me.. haha so here I am updating to you. Don't hate me okay? Hihihi Please enjoy! Xoxo - aLottaFaGiNa

CHAPTER 35: I NEVER THOUGHT

They stared at each other for about 30 minutes. He opened his mouth hesitantly to speak but shut it right after.

"I don't have all day Draco." She watched him with anticipated eyes. She felt that whatever he was going to tell her was going to be the most hardest of all. He was emitting a very strong emotion and she couldn't wait to hear what he has to say.

Draco sighed. "I don't know where to begin. Can I just show you?" He placed his wand on his hand and pulled out a memory.

"Okay if it is easier for you." She never thought she would be able to use a penseive on Draco. She pulled out the penseive from her drawer and ushered Draco to place the memory in.

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle it? It might be intense." He placed the memory in.

Leah smiled and nodded. "I don't want to miss this. It is too juicy!"

Draco laughed. "Just tell me if it gets too hard."

He held out his arm for her to take and they both entered the memory.

-#-#-#-#-

"Draco!"

He surveyed the crowd and his eyes settled on a waving Aerys. He watched as she approached him from across the street.

"Hey. I haven't seen you around."

"I have been busy." He muttered while sliding his hands on his pockets.

Aerys looked at him warily. "You seem to be avoiding me."

Draco sighed. "Look Aerys. Let me just get this straight: I love Ginny and I never intended to go back to what we used to be. It was only a friendly date so if you thought that we could be something more again then you are mistaken."

"I know. I also know you only dated me again because you wanted to get back at Ginny. I can see it in your eyes that you love her so."

"I'm sorry. I really have to go." Draco gave her an apologetic look and continued to walk.

Aerys looked around before grabbing him by the arm. "You can't find her that easily Draco."

He turned to look at Aerys with shocking eyes. "How-?"

"I can help you."

Then suddenly she was being hauled to a dark alley, Draco's wand pointing and hand gripping at her throat. "Where is she and where have you taken her?"

She choked for air and struggled to talk. "I- can.. you!"

His grip tightened on her throat as she struggled for air. He waited for a few minutes before releasing her. Her body dropped to the floor and she was catching her breath.

He stood with a menacing look on his eyes and wand still pointed at Aerys. "I could you right now but I want some answers and you are going to give it to me. Do you understand?" All Aerys could do was nod. Suddenly a white rope-like was encircling Aerys's neck and the other hand to Draco's left hand. He evilly gave her a smirk and tugged her so that she was now at his feet.

"We are going to go on a little trip." Then he apparated.

THUD!

Ronald Weasley jumped at the sight of Draco beside him. "Bloody hell! You scared the life out of me Malfoy and who is that with you?" he peered to the side of Draco and saw Aerys holding something on the air. "What are you doing Malfoy?!"

Draco stood calmly and tugged on something and Aerys was now beside his feet. "Pity won't be necessary Weasley. She knows information about your sister's whereabouts."

At the mention of Ginny, Ron eyes immediately darken. "Then proceed to whatever it is you are doing."

"You are welcome to join me." Draco shrugged.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." For the first time he and Draco shared a smile.

MEANWHILE

Blaise watched Luna like a hawk. His job was simple: watch over Luna and make sure she does not freak out. She was now staring out the window with a blank expression on her face. He sighed and rubbed his temples.

It has been days since this routine of hers started and he was now getting worried. She sleeps less. She talks less. She even eats less.

"The snarggles tell me that you'll soon explode if you don't stop rubbing your temples."

He looked up and she was looking at him. "I- I-" then she went back into staring at the window. 'Get a grip! She now talks to you and you stammer! Merlin!' he thought.

"The hymulos also said that talking to yourself will make your feet grow as large as a frying pan."

He gave her a small smile and realized that he was muttering to himself.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm only the messenger so don't think that I am talking to you out of my own free will. I don't want my ears to be turned into jelly and they threatened to do so if I don't tell you. Stupid creatures."

He chuckled and for the first time accepted the relaxing silence Luna gave. He decided to have a proper talk with her after Ginny has been saved.

DRACO

Ron stood right beside Draco as he performed spells on Aerys so that she was now sitting with her hands and feet bound to the chair. He then took out a tiny bottle.

"What's that?" Ron asked.

"Veristasum." Draco replied and he held the bottle in front of Aerys. "Are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?" Aerys slowly opened her mouth. "Good." He emptied the contents on her mouth and watched as she gulped it.

"Shall I do the honors or shall you?" Ron asked and Draco urged him to go on.

"Do you know where Ginny is?" Ron asked.

"No. That information is classified and has not been shared with me." Aerys weakly said.

"Are you under an Imperio right now?" Draco asked.

She opened her mouth to answer but her body started to convulse and she screamed in pain. Ron instantly took out his wand and muttered "Silencio! Relfus!"

Draco looked at him and Ron shrugged. "We don't want her dying now, would we? Now... Did she know who kidnapped her?"

"Yes. I beg you please don't ask me questions that are related to my master. He knew that this would come and he was prepared for it. If i say something that would give out any information about him then I would die just like what you have seen earlier." She pleaded with them.

"Fair enough. Do we know the person who kidnapped her?" Draco asked.

"Yes. Look Draco I will tell you everything that I know even if I'll die trying. It is the least I could do for you and for all the pain I have caused you, Ginny and her family. In my pocket there is a potion that would lift me from the Imperius curse." She cringed as she slowly started to convulse. She breathed deeply and continued to speak. "My brother made it for me."

"Alex? He is alive and well?"

"Yes very much so. Please take out the potion and I'll tell you everything."

Draco made a move to get it but Ron beat him up to it. "I'll do it. We- I still need you to find Ginny for me." He approached Aerys. He gulped and slowly reached inside her pocket. He let out his breath as he instantly felt the bottle. He grabbed it and held it in front of him. With Draco's nod, he proceeded to give Aerys the potion.

Her body now started to convulse and green smoke was emitted from her body. After a few minutes she weakly lifted her head. "I'll never get used to that. Where were we?"

Ron looked at Draco. "Maybe we should let her rest a bit?"

Draco shook his head. "No not until she answers our questions. Why are you doing this?"

"In exchange for my freedom, I have to seduce you so that Ginny would be vulnerable."

"Why Ginny?" Ron asked.

She took a deep breath and turned to look at him. "He wanted her for the reason I don't know. Information given to me has been limited due to my mission now."

"How long have you been working for your master?" Draco emphasized the work and said it like it was poison. 'Why Ginny?? They could have taken me instead.'

"Ever since then. Though he did not mention it, Master was not only after Ginny. I believe he is after you too."

"He better be prepared. I swear I'll cut off his throat when I see him."

GINNY

"Ginny! Ginny! Wake up!" she was shook lightly and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Nev? Is there something wrong?" Ginny carefully sat up and unconsciously rubbed her protruding belly.

Neville flashed her a smile. "It is time to eat." He carefully carried the tray towards her. On the tray were two hot porridges and 2 glasses of water.

"Thank you. You have been kind Nev. I am so glad you are here." She smiled and began eating. She noticed that Neville was staring at her. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"I am sorry for staring. You just looked so beautiful." He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear.

She blushed and muttered her thanks. "You know it's quite rude to let me eat alone."

He chuckled. "Okay okay. I'll eat now. I too am glad that you are here."

BANG!

The sudden noise made Ginny jump and spill her porridge. Neville came closer to her and reached for her hand.

"What do we have here? You have been a naughty boy!" The intruder held out his wand and instantly Neville was beside him with his face touching the floor. "Flirting like you are not prisoners! Stupid, stupid boy!"

"Leave him alone!" Ginny yelled.

The intruder, whose face was still covered in the darkness, laughed. "And what can a pregnant woman do? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to save your lover? Hm?"

She clenched her fists at her side and was about to retort when she heard Neville's voice.

"Don't Gin. He'll hurt you. It's okay if it's me. Just stay there."

Again the intruder laughed. "Foolish boy! Crucio!"

Ginny took a step back until she had her back against the wall. She slowly slid to the floor as she watched Neville being punished. She felt her tears flowing from her cheeks and she placed her hands to her ears to block Neville's screams. "Please stop already. Please!"

The man made a move to summon Ginny but he was halted by Neville's strong grip on his foot. "Punish me all you want. Just leave her alone!"

The man crouched beside Neville and took his chin so that Neville was looking at him. "You are stupid. Why would you ever want to sacrifice yourself for that bitch?" he turned to look at where Ginny was.

Ginny gasped. "Liam?"

William Vanderbilt wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Hello Ginny."