I do not own the song used in this chapter. It's 'Never Met a Girl Like You Before' by Edwin Collins. Not mine. At all.

The dim drone of the people around us was tuned out as I leaned back into Will, smiling as Sawyer told us a joke from across the booth.

Shane had finally gotten up the courage to ask her out, but only told her it was a 'trial' thing, and that she would be hitching along with Will and I on our date. Unfortunately, my dear brother forgot to tell me he would be tagging along on my date until several minutes before Will arrived, which put me in a rather foul mood for the first hour or so.

However, after arriving at the small, rather quiet club that Shane and Will had picked out in downtown London, I found myself enjoying the company more and more. Naturally Will had his connections and managed to get us a few drinks to help start the night off. We all promised not to get drunk, and Shane asked the bartender to stop bringing them to us when it seemed like we had had too much.

While I was a little upset that I didn't get my alone time with Will this weekend, I knew we were going back to the house afterwards, since Lucius decided to be a prick and make our curfew ten o'clock, so we could spend time together there.

Shane and Sawyer seemed like a good couple, if one was to really look at them. They ended up ordering the same drink without knowing it, and were currently splitting a plate of chicken wings. Will and I, on the other hand, had ordered different drinks, and I couldn't stand the plate of nachos covered in chili that he ordered, while he hated the hamburger I purchased. Not to worry - opposites attract. I grinned at the thought, and as our plates were cleared away, I snuggled in a little closer to him, his arm resting lazily over my back.

"You know what I think you should do, Shane?" I drawled, nodding over to the stage where a rather drunken woman was singing 'Locomotion' at the top of her lungs, "I think you should go up there and show them some real talent."

"You sing?" Sawyer asked, appearing shocked as she looked Shane over, "I didn't know that!"

"Shane's always had a good voice," Will complimented, smiling at my brother. "Go on, Shane... You never know who is listening out there."

"You lot are," Shane chuckled, shaking his head. "No."

"Please?" Sawyer giggled, resting her hand on his arm, "I've never heard you before."

He grinned sheepishly, "I'm not that good..."

I glanced up at Will, and he smirked, catching my train of thought. We waited until the manager of the club was on stage, thankfully ushering the previous singer off, then cleared his throat, "Right... Well, that was a stirring rendition of the Locomotion..."

There were a few chuckles and giggles from the crowd, and the short man continued, "If there is anyone else who would like to take the stage...?"

"Right 'ere!" Will shouted gruffly, standing up and pointing down at my brother, "Got your next slice of entertainment!"

The crowd broke off into a vigorous round of applause, and Shane sent a murderous glare at my boyfriend, then a similar one to me. Sawyer slid out of the booth, grasping his hand and pulling Shane out, much to his discontent.

"Come on up, lad," the manager called. "We'll give him a few seconds to pick a song, eh?"

There were a few mutual agreements form the crowd, and the clamor arose once again in the pub.

Sawyer bit her lip as Shane stalked off, grumbling to himself about the situation, and she sat down again, a worried expression on her face, "You don't think he'll be cross with me, do you?"

"More with us than anything," I replied, shaking my head. "Don't worry... You're the innocent one here."

She still seemed slightly nervous, and Will went a little further to tell her that Shane was just making a fuss to look cool; he actually enjoyed singing for people. Of course, that was partially true. Shane liked to sing for people he knew, and he generally sounded pretty good. However, when he's nervous, he tends to go off key, so as I sat in our booth at the back, I suddenly felt a little worried for my brother.

"He'll do fine," I laughed awkwardly, reassuring myself more than anyone. "I mean, if he sounds any worse than that last woman... Well, they may start throwing things. But if he messes up, they just won't listen, I suppose."

"Yeah, right Eloise," Will snorted, rubbing my back. "Don't tell me you're going to run up there and drag him off the stage before he opens his mouth."

"No," I snapped, rolling my eyes and shifting a little closer as I watched Shane finally give his music selection over to the manager.

The stout man looked over the music, then grinned, "We've got a classic here tonight, ladies and gents; Never met a girl like you by Edwin Collins... Give the poor lad a big hand before he starts."

Sawyer and I let out a pair of identical girlish shrieks, cheering him on as Will raised his fingers to his mouth and gave a shrill whistle. The crowd seemed eager to listen to him, but I suppose anything was better than the last woman who was up there. Thankfully Shane is neither drunk nor untalented.

The music started off with an odd form of guitar, and the keyboard switched to a different version of melodic sounds, and I grinned as Shane took a deep breath, stepping toward the microphone.

I've never known a girl like you before
Now just like in a song from days of yore
Here you come a knockin', knockin' at my door
And I've never met a girl like you before

Will and I, along with several other club goers let out a cheer as the instrumental chorus took over for a few moments. He seemed so confident up there, and I couldn't but notice the way Sawyer's cheeks were flushed as she watched him on stage, her elbow resting on the table while holding her head up.

You give me just a taste so I want more and more
Now my hands are bleeding and my knees are raw
Now you've got me crawlin', crawlin' on the floor
And I've never met a girl like you before

"What's with the blush?" I asked, leaning across the table to her as the instrumental chorus took over again.

She shrugged, then grinned cheekily, "I told him this was my favourite song..."

I rolled my eyes; romantic git.

You've made me acknowledge the devil in me
I hope to God I'm talkin' metaphorically
Hope that I'm talkin' allegorically
Know that I'm talkin' about the way I feel
And I've never known a girl like you before
Never, never, never, never
Never known a girl like you before

This old town's changed so much
Don't feel like I belong
Too many protest singers
Not enough protest songs
And now you've come along
Yes you've come along
And I've never met a girl like you before

I loved Shane's voice that night. He managed to pull off an old cabaret tone, which finally pleased the pub's crowd. He actually received a standing ovation, not only from our table, but numerous ones across the floor. I noticed the smug little bow he did before exiting the stage, then sheepishly walked through the crowd, thanking people for their comments on his performance. I thought he was great, but he's my brother, and I suppose my opinion doesn't count for much these days.

"Well done, mate," Will praised, rising up a little to slap my brother on the back when he was close enough. "I think they liked you."

"You think?" Shane laughed, rolling his eyes and accepting a hug from Sawyer. I looked away when she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, since he was shy enough about 'couple stuff' when I was around, and there was no need to make it worse.

"Excuse me?" a man intoned lightly. I glanced over at the elderly man, maybe in his early fifties, whose brown hair was thinning and had a perfectly pressed black suit on, "But may I ask you a question?"

"Me?" Shane asked, glancing around at the rest of us, "Sure... Go ahead."

"What's your name?"

My brother frowned, "Shane Malfoy, and yours?"

"Thomas Wittmore," he stated, reaching out and shaking Shane's hand. "I work for a record company just outside of Manchester... I must say that you've got quite a voice there."

"Thank you, sir," Shane babbled, his voice suddenly deepening, obviously trying to make himself sound a little older. "Glad you... enjoyed the show, I suppose."

"Oh, more than enjoyed it, my dear boy," Wittmore laughed, his eyes flickering out to the three of us. "You have rare, raw talent, Mr. Malfoy... and I'd like to make it better."

My eyes widened and I eagerly studied my brother, curious for his reaction. His face remained numb for a moment, but in the merest of seconds he grinned, "Really?"

"Now, I won't be paying you anything, but I'd like you to come do a recording sometime," the man insisted, pulling out a business card with lightning speed and slipping it into Shane's hand. "I'd like to see how well your voice does in a studio, and get to know your range."

"Wow... I... I don't know what to say," Shane stammered, folding up the little card and sticking it in his pocket. "That's... great."

"Now, I realize you have schooling... How old are you?"

"Sixteen, sir."

"Such talent for sixteen..." Wittmore murmured under his breath, the compliment almost lost in the noise of the club, "Nevertheless, I'd like to have you do some voice tests for me... There is a songwriter at the studio that would just kill to have someone with your voice write her stuff. So give me your phone number, and I'll be in contact within a few days."

Shane and I glanced at each other; it would be a cold day in Hell when the Malfoys allowed us to own phones. Shane cleared his throat, quickly making up something to cover for our lack of technology, "We just moved into our house, and a lot of our stuff hasn't made it here yet... I can give you my email, if you'd like. I check it everyday."

He seemed hesitant at first, but finally agreed to accept the piece of paper with Shane's Muggle email address on it. Sadly, the computer was the only thing in our house that linked us to the outside Muggle world.

As the man bid us his farewells, I noted the sudden swell of pride that radiated off of my brother, and as he sat down beside Sawyer, he looked as like the cat that swallowed the canary. Will reached across the table once more and gave him a quick smack on the arm, "You see? I told you; you never know who is listening in an audience!"

"Yeah..." Shane laughed, a smile permanently embedded on his face, "I suppose."

"That's amazing, Shane," Sawyer gushed, linking her arm with his. "Are you going to do it?"

He shrugged, looking down at her happily, "I suppose... Why not, right? I like to sing... Maybe I can make some money of my own."

My smile faltered a bit as a thought hit me; what if Shane became big? What if he moved out of the house early to pursue a career? Though I want him to be happy... I don't want him to leave just yet.

We spent another half an hour at the pub, then decided to take the dates back to the house, and maybe put on a movie in the Muggle room. Sawyer seemed excited that we even had a Muggle room, and I knew Shane would enjoy himself showing her around everywhere, and what everything did.

"Will and I'll just get some popcorn then," I blurted as Shane hooked his arm around Sawyer's hips, their faces close together. I dragged Will out of the room, then let out a giggle when he rolled his eyes, "Honestly... The lack of maturity I see around here."

Kevin must have been somewhere else, maybe in the attic with Lucius, since he didn't come down to say hello to Will, which was something he usually made an effort to do. I had a feeling dad was down with Harry; they had been talking more and more in secret for the past week and a half since Draco went in to see my aunt. I wouldn't call the relationship dad has with Harry Potter a friendship, but they seemed to value the same thing; aunt Hermione.

Grandmother actually managed to have Harry brought upstairs, and he shared a dinner with us one night. There wasn't a lot of talking going on, even Grandmother was displeased, but he was mainly brought up (according to Grandmother) to have just one meal in the company of others. Once he had finished, Lucius and dad escorted him back down to the basement, where he's been ever since.

"So popcorn is it?" Will asked, rousing me from my musings.

I sighed, realizing we were in the kitchen, and nodded, "Yeah... Seems like the most normal thing to have with a movie."

I moved across the kitchen area, finding a large enough pair of bowls to keep both of the couples happy during the movie. Though in our case I doubt there will be much movie watching, bit I hardly see a real problem with that.

"You okay?" he asked as I absently started to place the dual popcorn packet in the heater, "You seem a little distracted."

I shrugged, leaning back against the counter, "I don't know... I was just thinking."

He made his way over to me, hopping up and sitting on the marble countertop beside me, playing with a few bits of my hair, "About what?"

"Well, what if Shane makes something with singing?" I asked theoretically, turning to look at him, "I mean, he'd have to leave home and go... do something with it, right?"

"I suppose."

"I don't really... want him to go yet," I admitted, rubbing my arms. "He keeps me sane sometimes, you know? My aunt is locked away in prison... Dad it too preoccupied with her to notice anything that goes on around here... and Harry bloody Potter is still in our basement."

Will's eyes widened, and he frowned, "Potter is still here? I thought your father dealt with him...?"

"No... No, we need him to get aunt Hermione out," I sighed, shaking my head at the situation, "but she told dad she wouldn't allow him to use Harry Potter as leverage to get her out, so we're stuck with him until we figure out what to do."

"It's bloody dangerous keeping him here, Eloise," Will commented, concern etched in his voice. "He... People holding known criminals can be sentenced to death... Especially if it's Harry Potter!"

"I know... I worry about random Ministry coming to do a search everyday," I admitted, my voice shaking for the first time. "I mean... What if we get found?"

"Well, I don't think you have too much to worry about," he sighed, pulling me a little closer and kissing me on the top of my head. "The Malfoys are a pretty strong family... I'm sure they will keep you safe, if anything happens."

"I hope so..."

Harry watched as Draco paced the entire width of the relatively small dungeon for nearly five whole minutes before he said something, "As much fun as this is, Malfoy-"

"I've found a way to get Hermione out."

Harry's heart almost ceased beating for a moment, and he quickly remembered his vocal cords, "What? How? When? Malfoy, do-"

"I've been bribing different people all week long," Draco sighed, his expression weary and his tone exhausted. "I lost a lot of money, but it's not like the family will suffer for it..."

He wanted to feel sorry for the man, but his past pompous actions had made that almost impossible for Harry. Instead, he rose to his feet, the shackles finally removed permanently from his wrists. Perhaps the Malfoys finally thought that Harry was no longer a threat, and that there was less of a chance he would hurt them if he was given small liberties. It was nice to be able to move around his prison whenever his arse got sore from sitting on the floor.

"So?" Harry pressed, hungry to know more of the story, "When is she getting out? Who did you bribe?"

"No one special, really," he chuckled, running a hand through his blonde hair. "Mostly the guards... The Weasley twins and their wives are being released tomorrow, and I've managed to get the guards to bring Hermione out, too."

Harry frowned, words failing him for the briefest of moments, "Just... Just like that they're going to bring her out?"

"They told me if Voldemort wasn't involved personally, he wouldn't even notice her gone," Draco admitted, shrugging his slumped shoulders. "I just want her to be out. If she would have let me use you I could have gotten her out a long time ago."

Harry snorted coldly, and rolling his eyes he droned, "Yeah, because that plan would have worked wonderfully."

"Would have saved me the trouble of feeding you," Draco sneered back, his eye twitching with annoyance.

As much fun as it was to banter back and forth with his old rival, Harry was no longer in the mood. He had been staying with the Malfoys for almost a month now, and the enjoyment he got from making Draco's blood boil just wasn't there anymore. His main concern was for Hermione. Draco told him that she was weak and depressed the last time he visited her, and Harry wasn't sure how much more she could take without cracking under the pressure of it all.

"So you're going in tomorrow then?" Harry asked, making sure he knew the plan in his mind, "By yourself?"

"No, everyone is going to come down to fetch her... I'm sure she misses the children," Draco explained, smirking slightly. "Plus having father around as a brute to the guards always pays off..."

"Charming."

"You work with what you've got, Potter," Draco chuckled, folding his arms. "Once she's out, I'm bringing her here and not letting her out of my sight until she's healthy again... And you're leaving as soon as possible."

"Can't wait," Harry droned, leaning back against the wall. "The sooner the better, Malfoy."

"Good, because the feeling is mutual."

Someone cleared their throat at the bottom of the stairs, and Draco's head whipped up, his eyes straining in the darkness to see who is was. Harry, who was standing at a better angle, could see that it was that stupid brat who had him captured upon his first night at the Malfoy Manor.

"What do you want, Will?" Draco barked, his eyes narrowing, "Closed doors usually don't mean they're for you to venture through."

"Sorry, sir," Will stammered, going down a step or so. "Eloise fell a little ill... Must have been the hamburger at the club... But I can't find anyone else..."

"She's ill?"

"Hmm... She's got a bit of a temperature too," Will added, glancing from Draco to Harry. "I wouldn't have come down, but she said she just wanted you to check on her."

"Right... Fine. Night, Potter."

"Night, Malfoy."

Harry watched him stalk up the stairs to return to his fatherly duties, and he let out a laugh. He had never really expected Draco Malfoy to have children. Naturally, when he was in school, he assumed Malfoy would just eat his young.

However, he seemed to handle them fine, a little distant in Harry's mind, but then again Draco did have a lot on his mind as of late.

Figuring that was all the human company he would get for the night, Harry removed his shirt and tossed it somewhere in the corner, then laid down on a pair of pillows, staring at the ceiling. He was pondering over his fate, when the door to his imprisonment opened slowly, then shut again. He rolled onto his stomach, squinting to see a female figure slink down the steps, leaning on the railing in the darkness.

"Harry?"

His mouth was suddenly dry, and though he said her name, the word barely came out loud enough to hear, "Ginny?"

Sitting up hastily, he wondered whether or not this was some sort of strange dream. However, in an instant, he felt a slender body pounce on him, arms wrapping securely around his neck, almost intent on chocking him. And there she was. The familiar smell of her hair, the delicate feel of her smooth skin; it was all still there. He dragged her in closer, if that was possible, and he heard her release a sob next to his ear, her body suddenly starting to shake.

"Ginny, it's all right," he hushed, rocking her back and forth. "I'm here."

"G-Gods, Harry," Ginny whimpered, clinging to him, "I've missed you s-so much..."

"Me too," Harry agreed softly, a lump starting to form in his throat, "I wanted to visit you the first night I was here... But I don't think your... husband would have allowed that."

He hadn't meant to say it, but the biting remark was aching to be flung off his tongue. The marriage wasn't Ginny's fault, he knew, but he somehow felt that she could have avoided living with Snape for the past fifteen years if she had just run away.

She loosened her hold on him and leaned back, kneeling in front of him on the floor. Her eyes were still wide and innocent, despite her nature, and her face still made his heart flutter wildly in his chest. Age had been well to her; she had filled out, but only slightly. A woman was what Harry had last seen, but a more elegant woman was what he saw now. Her nails were well kept, and her hair was rather shiny. At least she looked in better condition now than when she lived in London with Dean, working for the Order secretly.

"He didn't want me to come here," she whispered, her tone shaking as she spoke. "He didn't want me to see you... I had to sneak out, and then sneak in here... You don't know how badly I've wanted to be with you again."

She gently stroked his face, and he leaned in to her touch, giving her palm a soft kiss when he could. The question burned inside him; was she still in love with him, the way he was still in love with her?

Ginny pulled her hand away, keeping eye contact with him, "Harry... I..."

"I don't think it would be right for you to stay long, Gin," Harry stated, his voice rough, yet soft. "You shouldn't betray your husband's trust by sneaking out... even if it is ruddy Snape."

"I'm sorry," she murmured, grasping one of his hands. "Please, Harry, I think we should talk."

"About what, Ginny?" Harry snapped, hating the way his voice sounded, "There's nothing to talk about right now... I've missed you like Hell... I've never fallen for someone like you, yet you're the one wearing a ring, and it's not mine."

Ginny released his hand as though he had burnt her, and she rose, her eyes filling with tears once more, "Harry, I'm so sorry, really-"

"It's done now, Ginny," Harry muttered, staring pointedly at the ground. "It's too late."